CONTESTS

OPA sponsors two poetry contests each year for adults and one poetry contest for children; members receive a lower price to enter the contests
The student contest culminates in a reading by the winners and a reception for the young poets and their guests
The student contest has monetary prizes and is free for the students to enter
The adult contest always include a category just for New Poets (those poets who have never before received a monetary award for their poetry)

ADULT CONTEST WINNERS:

Read Winning Poems from the OPA 2024 Spanish Contest September 28, 2024
2024 – Spanish Contest First Place – Yuliana Kenfield (Gamarra Medrano) September 28, 2024
2024 – Spanish Contest 2nd Place – Jesús Sepúlveda September 28, 2024
2024 – Spanish Contest 3rd place – Arturo Sarmiento September 28, 2024
2024 OPA Adult Contest Results September 24, 2024
Read Winning Poems from the OPA 2024 Poet’s Choice Category September 24, 2024
2024 – Oregon Poet’s Choice First Place – Connie Soper September 24, 2024
Oregon Poet’s Choice 2nd Place – Shawn Aveningo-Sanders September 24, 2024
Oregon Poet’s Choice 3rd place – Linda Drach September 24, 2024
Read Winning Poems from the OPA 2024 Members Only Category September 24, 2024
2024 – Members Only First Place – Amanda Hiland September 24, 2024
Members Only 2nd Place – Louhi Pohjola September 24, 2024
Members Only 3rd place – Susan Blackaby September 24, 2024
Read Winning Poems from the OPA 2024 New Poets Category September 24, 2024
2024 – New Poets First Place – Natalie Wilson September 24, 2024
2024 – New Poets 2nd Place – Severena Johnston September 24, 2024
New Poets 3rd Place – Mark Fryburg September 24, 2024
Read Winning Poems from the OPA 2024 Adult Contest – Form Category Prose Poem September 24, 2024
2024 – Prose Poem First Place – Dayle Olson September 24, 2024
2024 – Prose Poem 2nd Place – Scott Dalgarno September 24, 2024
2024 – Prose Poem 3rd place – Susan Easterly September 24, 2024
Read Winning Poems from the 2024 OPA Adult Contest – Theme Category “The Coast” September 24, 2024
2024 – “The Coast” First Place – Amelia Díaz Ettinger September 24, 2024
2024 – “The Coast” 2nd Place – Carolyn Adams September 24, 2024
2024 – “The Coast” 3rd place – James Higgins September 24, 2024
READ THE WINNING POEMS FROM OPA’S POETS CHOICE CATEGORY, JUDGE DAN BEACHY-QUICK October 5, 2023
READ THE WINNING POEMS FROM OPA’S MEMBERS ONLY CATEGORY, JUDGE JERI THERIAULT October 5, 2023
READ THE WINNING POEMS FROM OPA’S NEW POETS CATEGORY, JUDGE ALEX DANG October 5, 2023
READ THE WINNING POEMS FROM OPA’S TRADITIONAL–ELEGY CATEGORY, JUDGE DEREK SHEFFIELD October 5, 2023
READ THE WINNING POEMS FROM OPA’S THEME–EKPHRASIS CATEGORY, JUDGE JENNIFER PERRINE October 5, 2023
2022 Prizewinners Readings March 14 and 16 March 3, 2023
Read the Winning Poems from OPA’s Poet’s Choice Category October 24, 2022
Read the Winning Poems from OPA’s Members Only Category October 24, 2022
Read the Winning Poems from OPA’s New Poets Category October 24, 2022
Read the Winning Poems from OPA’s Traditional The Golden Shovel Category October 24, 2022
Read the Winning Poems from OPA’s Theme The Moon Category October 24, 2022
Read the Winning Poems from OPA’s 30 and Under Category October 24, 2022
Read the Winning Poems from OPA’s Spanish Language Category October 24, 2022
Read the Winning Poems from OPA’s Poet’s Choice Category April 26, 2022
Read the Winning Poems from OPA’s Members Only Category April 25, 2022
Read the Winning Poems from OPA’s New Poets Category April 24, 2022
Read the Winning Poems from OPA’s Spanish Language Category April 23, 2022
Read the Winning Poems from OPA’s 30 and Under Category April 22, 2022
Read the Winning Poems from OPA’s Themed Category April 21, 2022
Read the Winning Poems from OPA’s Traditional Form Category April 20, 2022
Read the Winning Poems from OPA’s Spanish Language Category January 30, 2022
Read the Winning Poems from OPA’s 30 and Under Category January 30, 2022
Read the Winning Poems from OPA’s Traditional Category January 30, 2022
Read the Winning Poems from OPA’s New Poets Category January 30, 2022
Read the Winning Poems from OPA’s Theme Category January 8, 2022
Fall 2021 Adult Contest Winning Poems for the Members Only Category December 22, 2021
Read the Winning Poems from OPA’s Poet Choice Category December 4, 2021
Announcing the OPA Fall 2021 Adult Contest Winners October 31, 2021
Spring, 2021, Adult Contest-Winning Poems, Spanish-Language Category July 29, 2021
Spring 2021 Contest Winning Poems in Category “Under 30” July 11, 2021
Spring 2021 Contest Winners in “Traditional” Category July 6, 2021
Spring 2021 Contest Winning Poems, Theme Category “Emergence” June 21, 2021
Spring 2021 Contest Winners, New Poets Category June 10, 2021
Spring 2021 Poetry Contest Winners, Members Only Category June 1, 2021
Spring 2021 Contest Winners, Poet’s Choice Category May 25, 2021
Spring 2021 Contest Results May 7, 2021
2020 Fall Contest Winners in the Spanish Language Category February 16, 2021
Fall 2020 winning Poems for 30 and Under Category February 3, 2021
Fall Contest Results for Theme: Community January 19, 2021
Winning Poems in the Pantoum Category January 7, 2021
Fall 2020 Winning Poems for the New Poets Category December 27, 2020
Fall 2020 Winning Poems for the Members Only Category December 14, 2020
Third Place Poem in Poet’s Choice Category November 23, 2020
Second Place Poem in Poet’s Choice Category November 22, 2020
Fall Poetry Contest – Poet’s Choice, First Place November 21, 2020
Fall Poetry Contest Results November 5, 2020
2020 Spring Contest Winners: Poet’s Choice: 1st Place Winner June 3, 2020
2020 Spring Contest Winners: Poet’s Choice: 2nd Place Winner June 2, 2020
2020 Spring Contest Winners: Poet’s Choice: 3rd Place Winner June 1, 2020
2020 Spring Contest Winners: Poet’s Choice: Honorable Mentions May 31, 2020
2020 Spring Contest Winners: Members Only: 1st Place Winner May 30, 2020
2020 Spring Contest Winners: Members Only: 2nd Place Winner May 29, 2020
2020 Spring Contest Winners: Members Only: 3rd Place Winner May 28, 2020
2020 Spring Contest Winners: Members Only: Honorable Mentions May 27, 2020
2020 Spring Contest Winners: New Poets: 1st Place Winner May 26, 2020
2020 Spring Contest Winners: New Poets: 2nd Place Winner May 25, 2020
2020 Spring Contest Winner: New Poets: 3rd Place Winner May 24, 2020
2020 Spring Contest Winners: New Poets: Honorable Mentions May 23, 2020
2020 Spring Contest Winners: Under 30: 1st Place Winner May 22, 2020
2020 Spring Contest Winners: Under 30: 2nd Place Winner May 21, 2020
2020 Spring Contest Winners: Under 30: 3rd Place Winner May 20, 2020
2020 Spring Contest Winners: Under 30: Honorable Mentions May 19, 2020
2020 Spring Contest Winners: Traditional Form – Triolet: 1st Place Winner May 18, 2020
2020 Spring Contest Winners: Traditional Form – Triolet: 2nd Place Winner May 17, 2020
2020 Spring Contest Winners: Traditional Form – Triolet: 3rd Place Winner May 16, 2020
2020 Spring Contest Winners: Traditional Form – Triolet: Honorable Mentions and Judge’s Comments May 15, 2020
2020 Spring Contest Winners: Theme – Anticipation: 1st Place Winner May 14, 2020
2020 Spring Contest Winners: Theme – Anticipation: 2nd Place Winner May 13, 2020
2020 Spring Contest Winners: Theme – Anticipation: 3rd Place Winner May 12, 2020
2020 Spring Contest Winners: Theme – Anticipation: Honorable Mentions May 11, 2020
Oregon Poetry Association Poetry Contest Spring 2020 Winners May 5, 2020
2019 Fall Contest Winner: 1st Place, Poet’s Choice December 22, 2019
2019 Fall Contest Winner: 2nd Place, Poet’s Choice December 21, 2019
2019 Fall Contest Winner: 3rd Place, Poet’s Choice December 20, 2019
2019 Fall Contest, Poet’s Choice: Honorable Mentions and Judge’s Comments December 19, 2019
2019 Fall Contest Winner: 1st Place, Members Only December 18, 2019
2019 Fall Contest Winner: 2nd Place, Members Only December 17, 2019
2019 Fall Contest Winner: 3rd Place, Members Only December 16, 2019
2019 Fall Contest, Members Only: Honorable Mentions and Judge’s Comments December 15, 2019
2019 Fall Contest Winner: 1st Place, New Poets December 14, 2019
2019 Fall Contest Winner: 2nd Place, New Poets December 13, 2019
2019 Fall Contest Winner: 3rd Place, New Poets December 12, 2019
2019 Fall Contest, New Poets: Honorable Mentions and Judge’s Comments December 11, 2019
2019 Fall Contest Winner: Traditional Form—1st Place, Blank Verse December 10, 2019
2019 Fall Contest Winner: Traditional Form—2nd Place, Blank Verse December 9, 2019
2019 Fall Contest Winner: Traditional Form—Blank Verse, 3rd Place December 8, 2019
2019 Fall Contest, Traditional Form—Blank Verse: Honorable Mentions December 7, 2019
2019 Fall Contest Winner: Theme—Our Common Life, 1st Place December 6, 2019
2019 Fall Contest Winner: Theme—Our Common Life, 2nd Place December 5, 2019
2019 Fall Contest Winner: Theme—Our Common Life, 3rd Place December 4, 2019
2019 Fall Contest, Theme—Our Common Life: Honorable Mentions and Judge’s Comments December 3, 2019
Oregon Poetry Association Fall 2019 Contest Winners November 7, 2019
2019 Spring Contest Winner: 1st Place, Theme–Climate June 9, 2019
2019 Spring Contest Winner: 2nd Place, Theme–Climate June 8, 2019
2019 Spring Contest Winner: 3rd Place, Theme–Climate June 7, 2019
2019 Spring Contest, Theme–Climate: Honorable Mentions and Judge’s Comments June 6, 2019
2019 Spring Contest Winner: 1st Place, Traditional Form–Ghazal June 5, 2019
2019 Spring Contest Winner: 2nd Place, Traditional Form–Ghazal June 4, 2019
2019 Spring Contest Winner: 3rd Place, Traditional Form–Ghazal June 3, 2019
2019 Spring Contest, Traditional Form–Ghazal Honorable Mentions and Judge’s Comments June 2, 2019
2019 Spring Contest Winner: 1st Place, New Poets June 1, 2019
2019 Spring Contest Winner: 2nd Place, New Poets May 31, 2019
2019 Spring Contest Winner: 3rd Place, New Poets May 30, 2019
2019 Spring Contest, New Poets: Honorable Mentions and Judge’s Comments May 29, 2019
2019 Spring Contest Winner: 1st Place, Members Only May 28, 2019
2019 Spring Contest Winner: 2nd Place, Members Only May 27, 2019
2019 Spring Contest Winner: 3rd Place, Members Only May 26, 2019
2019 Spring Contest, Members Only: Honorable Mentions and Judge’s Comments May 25, 2019
2019 Spring Contest Winner: 1st Place, Poet’s Choice May 24, 2019
2019 Spring Contest Winner: 2nd Place, Poet’s Choice May 23, 2019
2019 Spring Contest Winner: 3rd Place, Poet’s Choice May 22, 2019
2019 Spring Contest: Poet’s Choice, Judge’s Comments and Honorable Mentions May 21, 2019
Oregon Poetry Association Spring 2019 Contest Winners May 20, 2019
2018 Fall Contest, Theme – Harvest, 1st Place Winner November 20, 2018
2018 Fall Contest, Theme – Harvest, 2nd Place Winner November 19, 2018
2018 Fall Contest, Theme – Harvest, 3rd Place Winner November 18, 2018
2018 Fall Contest, Theme – Harvest, Honorable Mentions and Judge’s Comments November 17, 2018
2018 Fall Contest, Traditional Form – Rondeau, 1st place November 16, 2018
2018 Fall Contest, Traditional Form – Rondeau, 2nd Place Winner November 15, 2018
2018 Fall Contest, Traditional Form – Rondeau, 3rd Place Winner November 14, 2018
2018 Fall Contest, Traditional Form – Rondeau, Honorable Mentions and Judge’s Comments November 13, 2018
2018 Fall Contest, New Poets, 1st Place Winner November 12, 2018
2018 Fall Contest, New Poets, 2nd Place Winner November 11, 2018
2018 Fall Contest, New Poets, 3rd Place Winner November 10, 2018
2018 Fall Contest, New Poets, Honorable Mentions and Judge’s Comments November 9, 2018
2018 Fall Contest, Members Only, 1st Place Winner November 8, 2018
2018 Fall Contest, Members Only, 2nd Place Winner November 7, 2018
2018 Fall Contest, Members Only, 3rd Place Winner November 6, 2018
2018 Fall Contest, Members Only, Honorable Mentions and Judge’s Comments November 5, 2018
2018 Fall Contest: Poet’s Choice, 1st Place Winner November 4, 2018
2018 Fall Contest: Poet’s Choice, 2nd Place Winner November 3, 2018
2018 Fall Contest: Poet’s Choice, 3rd Place Winner November 2, 2018
2018 Fall Contest: Poet’s Choice, Honorable Mentions and Judge’s Comments November 1, 2018
OPA Congratulates Fall 2018 Contest Winners! October 28, 2018
2017 Spring Contest, Theme – Oregon/Pacific NW: 1st Place Winner September 10, 2018
2017 Spring Contest, Theme – Oregon/Pacific NW: 2nd Place Winner September 7, 2018
2017 Spring Contest, Theme – Oregon/Pacific NW: 3rd Place Winner September 4, 2018
2017 Spring Contest, Theme – Oregon/Pacific NW: Honorable Mentions September 1, 2018
#EmilyDickinsonSaveMeNow, by Nancy Flynn August 26, 2018
2018 Spring Contest Winner: 1st Place, Theme–Borders and Boundaries June 2, 2018
2018 Spring Contest Winner: 2nd Place, Theme–Borders and Boundaries June 1, 2018
2018 Spring Contest Winner: 3rd Place, Theme–Borders and Boundaries May 31, 2018
2018 Spring Contest, Theme–Borders and Boundaries: Honorable Mentions and Judge’s Comments May 30, 2018
2018 Spring Contest Winner: 1st Place, Traditional Form–Sonnet May 29, 2018
2018 Spring Contest Winner 2nd Place: Sonnet for the 25th Wedding Anniversary May 28, 2018
2018 Spring Contest Winner: 3rd Place, Traditional Form–Sonnet May 27, 2018
2018 Spring Contest, Traditional Form–Sonnet: Honorable Mentions and Judge’s Comments May 26, 2018
2018 Spring Contest Winner: 1st Place, New Poets May 25, 2018
2018 Spring Contest Winner: 2nd Place, New Poets May 24, 2018
2018 Spring Contest Winner: 3rd Place, New Poets May 23, 2018
2018 Spring Contest, New Poets: Honorable Mentions and Judge’s Comments May 22, 2018
2018 Spring Contest Winner: 1st Place, Members Only May 21, 2018
2018 Spring Contest Winner: 2nd Place, Members Only May 20, 2018
2018 Spring Contest Winner: 3rd Place, Members Only May 19, 2018
2018 Spring Contest, Members Only: Honorable Mentions and Judge’s Comments May 18, 2018
2018 Spring Contest Winner: 1st Place, Poet’s Choice May 17, 2018
2018 Spring Contest Winner: 2nd Place, Poet’s Choice May 16, 2018
2018 Spring Contest Winner: 3rd Place, Poet’s Choice May 15, 2018
2018 Spring Contest, Poet’s Choice: Honorable Mentions and Judge’s Comments May 14, 2018
Oregon Poetry Association Spring 2018 Contest Winners April 30, 2018
2107 Fall Contest New Poets: Honorable Mentions and Judge’s Comments December 4, 2017
2017 Fall Contest Winner: 3rd Place, New Poets December 3, 2017
2017 Fall Contest Winner: 2nd Place, New Poets November 18, 2017
2017 Fall Contest Winner: 1st Place, New Poets November 17, 2017
2017 Fall Contest: Theme, Current Events: Honorable Mentions November 16, 2017
2017 Fall Contest Winner: 3rd Place, Theme–Current Events November 15, 2017
2017 Fall Contest Winner: 2nd Place, Theme–Current Events November 14, 2017
2017 Fall Contest Winner: 1st Place, Theme–Current Events November 13, 2017
2017 Fall Contest Traditional Form, Villanelle: Honorable Mentions and Judges’ Comments November 12, 2017
2017 Fall Contest Winner: 3rd Place, Traditional Form–Villanelle November 11, 2017
2017 Fall Contest Winner: 2nd Place, Traditional Form–Villanelle November 10, 2017
2017 Fall Contest Winner: 1st Place, Traditional Form–Villanelle November 9, 2017
2017 Fall Contest Members Only: Honorable Mentions and Judges’ Comments November 8, 2017
2017 Fall Contest Winner: 3rd Place, Members Only November 7, 2017
2017 Fall Contest Winner: 2nd Place, Members Only November 6, 2017
2017 Fall Contest Winner: 1st Place, Members Only November 5, 2017
2017 Fall Contest: Poet’s Choice Honorable Mentions and Judge’s Comments November 4, 2017
2017 Fall Contest Winner: 3rd Place, Poet’s Choice November 3, 2017
2017 Fall Contest Winner: 2nd Place, Poet’s Choice November 2, 2017
2017 Fall Contest Winner: 1st Place, Poet’s Choice November 1, 2017
Oregon Poetry Association Fall 2017 Contest Winners October 17, 2017
OPA 2017 Spring Contest Winners May 17, 2017
OPA 2016 Fall Contest Winners December 24, 2016
Oregon Poetry Association – 2016 Spring Contest Winners April 19, 2016
Oregon Poetry Association – Fall 2015 Contest Winners October 21, 2015
Oregon Poetry Association – Spring 2015 Contest Winners May 4, 2015
Featured OPA Contest Winner: Amy S. O’Hearn April 30, 2015
Featured OPA Contest Winner: Penny Hetherington April 28, 2015
Featured OPA Contest Winner: Lisa Baldwin April 24, 2015
Featured OPA Contest Winner: Andy Durrenberger April 20, 2015
Featured OPA Contest Winner: Keli Osborn April 16, 2015
Featured OPA Contest Winner: Jeanne Morel April 12, 2015
Featured OPA Contest Winner: Tess Thiringer April 8, 2015
Featured OPA Contest Winner: Sue Parman April 4, 2015
Featured OPA Contest Winner: Jerri Elliott Otto April 1, 2015
Oregon Poetry Association – Fall 2014 Contest Winners November 13, 2014
Oregon Poetry Association – Spring 2014 Contest Winners April 12, 2014
Oregon Poetry Association – Fall 2013 Contest Winners October 8, 2013
Oregon Poetry Association – Spring 2013 Contest Winners April 2, 2013
OPA – Contest Winners for 2011 and 2012 December 15, 2012

STUDENT CONTEST WINNERS:

OPA Congratulates Cascadia 2020 Winners! March 14, 2020
2019 National Federation of State Poetry Societies MANNINGHAM TRUST STUDENT POETRY WINNERS June 24, 2019
OPA Congratulates the 2019 Cascadia Contest Winners! April 15, 2019
OPA Congratulates the 2018 Manningham Winners! May 22, 2018
2018 Cascadia Winners March 14, 2018
2017 Student Contest Winners February 14, 2017
2016 Oregon Student Poetry Contest Winners! March 19, 2016
2015 Oregon Student Poetry Contest Winners! November 25, 2015
2015 Manningham Student Contest Winners November 25, 2015
2015 Oregon Student Poetry Contest Winners! April 15, 2015

Please see the pages for student contest or the adult contest for more information including categories and rules.