To commemorate National Poetry Month in April, the Lehigh Valley Press newspapers and web sites present the 9th annual Student Poetry Project on this page, B3 and the Focus pages online.

Students whose poems appear on this page read their poems on "Lehigh Valley Arts Salon," 6 - 6:30 p.m. April 21, Lehigh Valley Community Public Radio Station WDIY, 88.1, wdiy.org.

The Student Poetry Project adjudication committee, chaired by George Van Doren, retired Bethlehem Area School District teacher, convened April 1 and read 175 poems submitted by students from the Lehigh Valley region.

The adjudicators, in addition to Van Doren, include Shirley M. Daluisio, retired Bethlehem Area School District teacher; Ann E. Michael, DeSales University Writing Coordinator and a published poet; Stephanie Bell, Penn State Lehigh Valley Writing Project Professional Development Coordinator; Stacey Alexander, Allentown School District teacher, and Paul Willistein, Lehigh Valley Press Focus editor-writer-photographer.

The Lehigh Valley Press thanks the students who submitted poems, as well as the school teachers, parents and guardians who encouraged them.

Photo of Student Poetry Project committee: Page B3