Calling all versifiers, rhymers, sonneteers, and lyricists, the annual Ventura Valdez poetry contest is accepting submissions through April 1.

All students are eligible to submit two original poems in English or Spanish to the 30th annual Ventura Valdez contest, according to press release.

$100 will be rewarded to the winners of the English poetry award and $100 to the Spanish poetry award.

This is an opportunity for talented poets to share their works. The contest is named after Ventura Valdez, a American of Mexican descent, who was a gifted story teller and who encouraged literacy and excellence.

Students simply need to submit the completed entry form which requires students to list their MC number for identification.

The completed form (paper or via email) and the typed poems should be sent or emailed to: Professor Robert L. Giron Ventura Valdez Poetry Contest Montgomery College 7600 Takoma Ave. Takoma Park, MD 20912Robert.Giron@montgomerycollege.edu

The following are the entry guidelines:

All entrant who do not submit the proper form or entries will not be accepted.

1. The contest is open to all present and past Montgomery College students who write poetry in either English or Spanish; however, no entrant may win a language category more than twice. An English translation of an original world language (French or Arabic) poem is acceptable.

2. Each entrant is requested to provide his/her: name, address, telephone number, MC number, and the date of the most recent semester at Montgomery College, and the title(s) of the poem(s) entered on this entry form.

3. Each entry in either English or Spanish must be no more than 2 typed, double-spaced pages, on one side of the paper only, and the entry must not bear the entrant’s name or any other form of identification.

4. Each entrant is limited to entering 2 poems in English and/or Spanish. Entrants should keep a copy of all entries as they will not be returned.