The gathering, which is free, is organized by Split P Soup, an outreach project of USC's S.C. Poetry Initiative (SCPI). The winner of the S.C. Young Poets Prize will be announced. Deadline for contest entries is Oct. 31, with complete details listed on Split P's Web site at www.splitp.org. The grand-prize winner and five finalists will receive cash awards.

More than 200 students submitted entries for last year's inaugural contest.

The event will feature innovative poetry-writing sessions for teens, opportunities for the young writers to have their poetry read and critiqued by award-winning published poets, an open-mic reading session, and performances by gifted poets and musicians from the Southeast.

"These are our future writers, and it would be a mistake to fail to give them as much encouragement and training as possible in craft and the art of making poems," said Kwame Dawes, a USC English professor and director of the SCPI and USC's new Arts Institute. "I wish I had this kind of program when I was writing my uncertain poems as a teen-ager years ago."

The innovative Split P Soup comprises USC poets, graduate students, teachers, and faculty members who provide opportunities for students and teachers in grades K–12 to explore, learn, and teach the benefits of poetry writing.

For more information, call 7-2230 or go to www.cas.sc.edu/engl/poetry/.

10/05