The National Career Development Association is conducting their 50 th Annual Poetry &
Poster Contest. The theme is: Foster Well-Being through Meaningful Work.
Mississippi Counseling Association is proud to conduct the state preliminaries for the national contest.
Winning submissions for the Poetry and Poster contest will be submitted immediately following MCA conference in November. SUBMISSIONS DUE BY OCTOBER 2, FRIDAY WITH ENTRY FORM.
Eligibility
Primary: grades K-2
Intermediate: Grades 3-5
Middle: Grades 6-8
Senior: Grades 9-12
Adult student: 18+ enrolled in school
Open adult: 18+ not enrolled in school
Poetry Requirements
Use of any acceptable poetic form
SIZE: EACH POEM MUST BE IN 12 POINT FONT AND ON SINGLE SHEET OF 8 ½ ” X 11” PAPER
Poster Requirements
Simple bold lettering preferred
Captions are to be used to convey the theme, attract attention, and to achieve goals of clarity, vigor, and originality. All lettering considered part of the design.
Category 1: Standard use of ink, pencil, poster, paints, magic marker, acrylics, oil
Category 2: Use of photos, clip art, graphic art, software, collage, cut/pasted paper, & mixed media.
SIZE: EACH POSTER MUST BE CREATED IN 8 ½ ” X 11” FORMAT, INCLUDING MATTE
Judging of entries will consist of educators, including a member of the language arts and/or arts department, parents, and a representative from the community.
Judging Criteria: Judging will be based on originality, creativity, and development of the national theme.
Poems will be evaluated on appropriate form, execution, spelling, and grammar. Poster evaluation will focus on the appropriate use of media, lettering, and basic principles of art. Please adhere to the size requirements for each entry as many entries are received. Submissions will not be returned.
WINNERS!!!!
Winning entries will be on display at the Mississippi Counselor Association annual conference in Biloxi, MS from November 4-6, 2015.
1 st , 2 nd , & 3 rd place winners will be sent to the National Contest. National results will be announced on the NCDA Website in April, 2016. The winning entries of the National Contest will be on display at the Annual
Global Conference in Chicago, IL.
*Please complete the following form and include it with contest submissions by October 2.*

(Each entry must have a completed form)
Student Name: ________________________________________ Age: _____Grade: ________
Address: _____________________________________________________________________
City: __________________________________ State: ____________ Zip: _________________
Phone Number(s): __________________________ _________________________________
Email: _______________________________________________________________________
School Counselor: ______________________________________________________________
School Name: _________________________________________________________________
Address: _____________________________________________________________________
City: __________________________________ State: ____________ Zip: _________________
Phone Number(s): __________________________ _________________________________
Email: _______________________________________________________________________
You must state the school the individual attends per eligibility guidelines unless the entry is submitted under Open Adult.
_____ Individual Submission _____ School Submission
_____ Poetry _____ Poster C1 _____ Poster C
I, ______________________________, state that the attached Poster/Poetry entry is the original, which I myself created and completed.
Signature: ________________________________________ Date: _______________________
Thank you for ensuring a fun-filled contest by submitting your original work!
Note: All entries become the property of the National Career Development Association and will not be returned. The association reserves the right to use the poems and posters to focus attention on activities and promote Career Development Month goals.