The Carl Cherry Center for the Arts is pleased to announce the 2026 Elliot Ruchowitz-Roberts Monterey County High School Poetry Awards. This long-standing program recognizes and promotes excellence among high school poets while fostering a lasting interest in creative expression through the written word.

A reading and awards ceremony honoring the student poets will be held on Saturday, May 9, at 2:00 p.m. at the Carl Cherry Center for the Arts in Carmel.

Elliot Ruchowitz-Roberts provided inspiration and writing instruction to thousands of area high school students during his tenure with the Robert Campbell Poetry Awards. In 2023, the program was renamed in his honor.

RULES

Monterey County high school students are invited to submit original poetry for this competition. Entries will be judged on originality, creativity, and depth of expression.

Eligibility & Language:

• The author must be currently enrolled in a Monterey County high school.

• Poems may be written in English, Spanish, or a combination of both.

• Spanish-language submissions must include an English translation.

Submission Limits & Content:

• A maximum of three poems per student may be submitted.

• No poem may exceed 40 lines.

• There are no restrictions on content, style, or form.

Identification:

Each poem must include the following information:

• Student’s name

• Address

• Email address

• Phone number

• School name

• Name of English teacher

File Format Requirements:

Please submit poems in one of the following formats:

• Microsoft Word (.docx) — preferred

• Google Doc (shared with viewing access only

⚠️ Do not submit PDFs, images of text, or Google Docs that require permission to access. These formats cannot be easily copied or reviewed and may result in disqualification.

Submission Method & Deadline:

• Email submissions to: carlcherrypoetry@gmail.com

• All entries must be received no later than Saturday, April 4, 2026

Poet-in-Schools:

Our Poet-in-Schools, Patrice Vecchione, is the author of two collections of poetry and three nonfiction books, most recently My Shouting, Shattered, Whispering Voice: A Guide to Writing Poetry & Speaking Your Truth. Patrice has taught poetry in local schools and elsewhere for many years. patricevecchione.com.

Prizes:

$300 1st Place
$250 2nd and 3rd Place
$100 4th and 5th Place
$25 Honorable Mentions

All winners will receive a certificate of merit and a copy of an anthology featuring their award-winning poem.

Ceremony:

A reading and awards ceremony honoring the award-winning student poets will be held on Saturday, May 9th, at 2:00 pm at the Carl Cherry Center for the Arts, Fourth and Guadalupe, Carmel.

Sponsors:

The Elliot Ruchowitz-Roberts Monterey County High School Poetry Awards are held each year in conjunction with Thinking Out Loud, the Cherry Center’s annual high school art exhibition. Both programs are made possible through funding from: