Poetry Scholarship – Ages 25–35!

Walt Whitman Birthplace Association (WWBA) invites applications for the annual Gwenn A. Nusbaum / WWBA “Poets To Come” Scholarship Award.

The $1500 scholarship is offered in the spirit of Walt Whitman’s poem of that title: “POETS to come!

Deadline April 3, 2023

Applications are sought from those poets at the beginning of their careers, ages 25–35 years. Finalist notified May 15, 2023.

POETS TO COME SCHOLARSHIP

Gwenn A. Nusbaum / WWBA “Poets To Come” Award

Walt Whitman Birthplace Association (WWBA) invites applications for the annual Gwenn A. Nusbaum / WWBA “Poets To Come” Scholarship Award.

The $1500 scholarship is offered in the spirit of Walt Whitman’s poem of that title: “POETS to come! / Not to-day is to justify me and answer what I am for, / But you, a new brood / Leaving it to you to prove and define it, / Expecting the main things from you.”

Open Date – Jan. 1, 2023 | Deadline April 3, 2023 | Finalist notified May 15, 2023 | No fee

Click Here to view the Guidelines for Poetry Scholarship

Applications are sought from those poets at the beginning of their careers, ages 25–35 years. This scholarship, to be awarded every year, aims to encourage and assist an emerging poet in their creative poetry writing endeavors. Their emerging poetry career should be of exceptional artistic quality and societal import, and should demonstrate a passion for poetry, an awareness of the power of the poem, an originality of perspective and skillful use of expressive language. They will be expected to produce additional highly significant work during the scholarship timeline of one year, July 1, 2023 – July 1, 2024.

The application deadline is April 3, 2023. The winner will be notified by May 15, 2023. There is no application fee. An Award Ceremony is planned to be held at the Walt Whitman Birthplace State Historic Site in June 2023, date TBA. Due to COVID precautions, the Award Ceremony may be held as a virtual Zoom event, or a hybrid live stream program.

Visit Here to Submit Your Form for Poetry Scholarship

This scholarship is founded and made possible by the generous support of WWBA Trustee Gwenn A. Nusbaum, LCSW, and published poet. Support also comes from WWBA Trustees, Members, and Donors. Gwenn Nusbaum states, “The scholarship program aims to draw interest to the Whitman legacy, the Whitman Birthplace, and to encourage emerging poets of promising talent”.

The Award is administered by WWBA. The winner is selected by an independent and diverse panel of five (5) judges who may include, but are not limited to, poets, professors, scholars, writers, and WWBA representatives. The panelists for 2023 includes 3 notable judges including Victoria Chang, Juan Felipe Herrera, and WWBA representatives Trustee Robert Savino and Executive Director Cynthia Shor. Trustee Gwenn A. Nusbaum is a non-voting panelist member. To learn more about the poet panelists.

Cost: Free

Click Here to View More Information about the Poetry Scholarship