What Does America Mean To You? Students Invited To Submit Poems For County Contest

MONMOUTH COUNTY, NJ — Submissions are now open for the MonmouthNJ 250 Committee’s Freneau Student Poetry Contest, which is open to students throughout Monmouth County in grades 3-5.

Held in recognition of America’s 250th birthday, students are invited to write and submit an original poem about America for the contest.

Philip Freneau – who moved to Monmouth County in 1762 – is who the contest was named for, Monmouth County Clerk and MonmouthNJ 250 Committee Co-Chair Christine Giordano Hanlon said.

From the age of 10, Freneau lived in Middletown Point (today known as Matawan) and later became known as the “Poet of the American Revolution” because he wrote about the war and inspired people to join the fight for freedom.

“In honor of famous Monmouth County poet Philip Freneau, we are inviting students to write an original poem about America,” said Commissioner Director Thomas Arnone, co-chair of the MonmouthNJ 250 Committee. “Through their poems, students are invited to share their voices, dreams and reflections on what America means to them.”

Prizes for the contest will be awarded for each grade level, officials said.

The winning poems will be showcased on the MonmouthNJ250 website, MonmouthNJ 250 social media channels and will be highlighted throughout the semiquincentennial celebration.

Submissions can be sent via email to monmouthnj250@co.monmouth.nj.us with the subject line "Freneau Student Poetry Contest.”

The poem should be attached in either a word document or PDF format or sent via mail to the MonmouthNJ 250 Committee, Attn: MonmouthNJ 250 Student Poetry Contest, 33 Mechanic Street, Freehold, NJ 07728.

The deadline for submissions is May 16, 2025, officials said. Winners will be announced by June 1, 2025.

To learn more, you can visit the Monmouth County website or the MonmouthNJ 250 website.