ROW Contest Guidelines

• Category I - Kindergarten-Grade 2
• Category II - Grades 3-5
• Category III - Grades 6-8
• Category IV - Grades 9-12

• All poems must be original work.
• Poetry must be either typed (preferred) or legibly written in ink. Poems cannot exceed 32 lines in length.
• The student's name, school, city and state should be on the poem, and a completed Student Entry Form must be stapled facing outward to the back of each poem.

• All artwork must be original work. No photocopies allowed.
• Artwork may not exceed 11 x 17 inches - no exceptions.
• Acceptable media are paint, pencil, markers, ink, crayon, chalk or pastel (fixed), photography, cloth, collage, woodcuts, linoleum block prints, silk screen, monoprints, lithographs and computer art. Photo entries must be at least 8 x 10 inches.
• All entries must include the student's name, school, city, and state on the back. Do not use marking pen or anything that will show through. A completed student entry form must also be affixed to the back of each piece of artwork, facing outward, with tape or other safe fixative. Do not use paperclips.
• Art entries must be done on paper that will allow for duplication, display, or framing. Please, no notebook paper, and do not mat, mount, laminate, frame, or fold artwork. Entries must be mailed flat or rolled in a tube.

Group entries are completed through group activities or under the guidance of a facilitator. These include school groups, after-school groups, scout troops, 4-H clubs, and others. 

For online entries:  

Students must complete the Online Entry Form and complete the School/Organization Section towards the bottom of the form. Upload a digital copy of the artwork or poetry entry to the online form before submitting. Files must be less than 5MB. 

For mail-in group entries:

Students must check the group entry box on the Mail-in Student Entry Form and complete the school/organization information. The leader or teacher must complete the group facilitator form to send in with all other entries in the group. Attach a completed student entry form to the back of each piece (art or poetry), facing outward.

Educators - Mail-in Facilitator Form
Include this form with the entries from a group you have led in River of Words activities.

• Please send all group entries with forms attached and facilitator form with a list of entered students in one envelope or package - do not send each entry individually.
• Note: Every group member must complete and attach a separate student entry form for each entry.

Send all entries, with student entry forms attached, by February 1 to:

• Georgia River of Words
  2 MLK Jr. Drive, Suite 1462 E
  Atlanta, GA 30334 

Individual entries are independently completed by a student (not through school or any other guided activity).

For online entries:  

Students must complete the Online Entry Form. Upload a digital copy of the artwork or poetry entry to the online form before submitting. Files must be less than 5MB. 

For mail-in individual entries:

If you are entering the contest completely on your own, please complete the Mail-in Student Entry Form and check the Individual box.

Please Note: If you are submitting more than one entry, a separate student entry form must be attached to each piece. Please send all of your entries with attached student entry forms, in one package.

Send all entries, with student entry forms attached, by February 1 to:

• Georgia River of Words
  2 MLK Jr. Drive, Suite 1462 E
  Atlanta, GA 30334