2026 CCEW Illustrated Poem Contest

“Into the Woods with Chemistry”

The Princeton Local Section of the American Chemical Society (ACS) is sponsoring an illustrated poem contest for students in kindergarten through 12th grade.

Contest Deadline: April 27th, 2026

Prizes will be awarded in: K-2 nd; 3rd-5th; 6th-8th and 9-12th grade categories        

Prizes: Gift card to top student entries

Contact: CCEW PACS Coordinator atprincetonacs258@gmail.com

To Enter

Write and illustrate a poem using the CCEW theme, Trees: Into the Woods with Chemistry and submit it through this form. Your poem must be no more than 40 words and in the following styles to be considered: HAIKU  -  LIMERICK  -  ODE  -  ABC POEM  -  FREE VERSE  -  END RHYME  -  BLANK VERSE

Topics related to the TREE theme include:

  • Photosynthesis

  • Cellulose 

  • Glucose

  • Preservation

  • Chlorophyll

  • Resin

  • Polymer

Entries will be judged based upon:

  • Artistic Merit - use of color, quality of drawing, design, and layout

  • Poem Message - fun, motivational, inspiring about yearly theme

  • Originality Creativity - unique, clever and/or creative design

  • Neatness - free of spelling and grammatical errors­

Rules

  • All poems must be no more than 40 words, and in one of the following styles to be considered: Haiku, Limerick, Ode, ABC poem, Free verse, End rhyme, and Blank verse.

  • Entries are judged based upon relevance to and incorporation of the CCEW theme, word choice and imagery, colorful artwork, adherence to poem style, originality and creativity, and overall presentation.

  • All entries must be original works without aid from others. Poems may be submitted by hand on an unlined sheet of paper not larger than 11” by 14” or scanned and sent via email. Illustrations may be created using crayons, watercolors, other types of paint, colored pencils, or markers. The illustration may also be electronically created by using a digital painting and drawing app on a computer, tablet, or mobile device.

  • The text of the poem should be easy to read and may be typed before the hand-drawn or digital illustration is added, or the poem may be written on lined paper, which is cut out and pasted onto the unlined paper with the illustration.

  • No clipart or unoriginal images can be used. If a graphic program is used it must be identified.

  • Only one entry per student will be accepted; all entries must include an entry form. If the illustration is created using a digital painting or drawing app, the name of the program must be included on the entry form.

  • Acceptance of prizes constitutes consent to use winners’ first name, and entry for editorial, advertising, and publicity purposes.

Submit Entry