��������

�������� Honors is now accepting submissions for the sixth annual �������� Texas Poetry Contest. Poems should be e-mailed to ayox@ntcc.edu by noon on†Friday, Aug. 30.†The Reading and awards ceremony will be held Friday, Sept. 6 in the Whatley Center Foyer at 11 a.m.††In order to be considered for prizes, contestants must read their poems in person during this brief ceremony.

Awards for students who have completed less than 50 hours of collegiate work begin at $400 for first place, $300 for second, $200 for third, and $100 for fourth. †Prizes for adults (non-students or students with more than 50 hours of collegiate work) are $200 for first place and $50 for second place.

All ages are welcome to participate and poems can be any style or length. Entries should focus on defining �������� Texas.†Winning poems will accent and enliven our sense of the surroundings, the people, the culture, and/or the history of �������� Texas. The winners, and winning poems of previous years can be found on the poetry page of .†In addition to the public reading, poems may also be submitted to regional news outlets.

The �������� Texas Poetry Contest is made possible by sponsor Michael Whitney and Elliott Chrysler, Jeep Dodge of Mount Pleasant.

?I look forward to these contests every year. I think the question we are asked most in our lives is where we are from, and each year our contestants have provided provocative answers.††Thus far, I think we have concluded that �������� Texas is the one place in the world where one can have a plethora of lakes, robust green fields, plenty of dramatic thunderstorms, and tall shade trees, and still have the luxury of being Texan,"†Dr. Andrew Yox, NTCC Honors Director, said.

For more information about the contest, or to learn more about NTCC Honors, contact Yox at 903-434-8229,†ayox@ntcc.edu, or check out the NTCC Honors Facebook.