Tom Lee Poetry & Spoken Word Contest
Recognizing outstanding poetry and spoken word inspired by Tom Lee and the qualities of courage, kindness, selflessness and generosity that Lee exemplifies.
Tom Lee Poetry and Spoken Word Contest
High School Competition
Rules & Eligibility
The High-School Competition is open to students between 9th and 12th grade attending a high-school in Shelby County, TN. Students must write an original work, not previously published and limited to 40 lines.
Prizes: 1st - $300, 2nd - $200, 3rd - $100 (Winning teachers receive gift card of same amount).
Mid-South Competition
Rules & Eligibility
The Mid-South Competition is open to adults over 18 years old residing in TN, MS or AR. Participants must write an original work, not previously published and limited to 50 lines.
Prize: $1,500
The judge for the Tom Lee Poetry and Spoken Word Contest is award-winning, widely published poet and professor at University of Memphis, Marcus Wicker.
Writing about Tom Lee is not required, but work should be inspired by the themes of courage, kindness, selflessness and generosity.
Find Inspiration
Watch the spoken word performance Tom Lee: A Very Worthy Hero by Sebastian Carson.
2O22
FIRST PLACE - High School
Aayush Jain, White Station High School
SECOND PLACE - High School
Tamarrio Anderson, Memphis Business Academy
THIRD PLACE - High School
Logan Parson, Germantown High School
Congratulations Winners!
2O23
FIRST PLACE - High School
Ana Hunter, Hutchison School
SECOND PLACE - High School
Riley Hancock, Crosstown High
THIRD PLACE - High School
Guadalupe Moctezuma Gatica, Central High School
2O24
Mid-South - Adult
Rosalind Guy
FIRST PLACE - High School
Max McClung, Crosstown High
SECOND PLACE - High School
Owen McHaney, Crosstown High
THIRD PLACE - High School
Ajada McGowan, Central High School