Richard Wilbur Poetry Award

The Richard Wilbur Poetry Award is an annual literary prize established to honor the legacy of Richard Wilbur, the two-time Pulitzer Prize–winning American poet and former U.S. Poet Laureate. Administered through the University of Maine at Farmington, the award typically recognizes a manuscript or collection of poems of high literary merit, with the winner often receiving publication and/or a cash honorarium. This award is a **general poetry prize** rather than a high school–specific program, and it is usually open to adult poets and emerging writers rather than being targeted exclusively at secondary school students. As such, it is best suited to serious writers who already have a substantial body of work and are ready to submit a polished collection for consideration. Benefits include professional recognition, potential publication, and an association with a prize named for one of the major American poets of the 20th century. High school students interested in poetry can still look to the Richard Wilbur Poetry Award as a model of professional-level standards in contemporary poetry prizes, but they should verify current eligibility requirements before attempting to enter.