!!The New York Knicks and Urban Word NYC host Annual College Fair This Saturday!!

Date: November 7th

Time: 10AM-3PM

Place: Hammerstein Ballroom (34th Street @ 8th Ave)

According to the website, “This College Fair is one of the most unique annual college fairs around the tri-state area. High school students are encouraged to come out and meet with over 60 colleges and universities from around the country. While exploring the fair, you will be able to watch master poets and dance groups perform, listen to music and live bands, and interact with over 2,000 students. In addtion to all of these festivities, there are two dynamic Poetry competitions going on at the same time.

College application workshops will be conducted throughout the day and financial aid advisors will be on hand to answer any questions.

Special guests, including Knicks Alumni, will make peridodic appearances throughout the day and sign autographs.”

As mentioned, there will also be a Poetry Slam Program– one Spoken Word Competition and a Written Competition. Here are the details:

1. Spoken Word Competition — A Poetry Slam competition where students progress through an Open Audition, Poetry Workshops, Preliminary Slams, Semi-final Slams, all to compete at the Knicks Poetry Slam Finals at the New Amsterdam Theatre on Broadway.

Spoken Word Prizes

1st place – $10,000 laptop and printer
2nd place – $7,500 laptop and printer
3rd place – $5,000 laptop and printer
4th — 10th – $1,000

To be eligible for this competition, participants must prepare a 1-minute poem audition and perform before a panel of judges at the College Fair on November 7th between 10am-3pm. Top scorers will be placed in a 5-week writing workshop series taking place at sites across the city. Open to teens ages 13-19 years old.

2. Written Competition — students must submit a portfolio of original work including: an essay “The Reason I Write,” poetry samples, community service and a resume. The portfolio will be reviewed by a panel of judges to determine the winners.

Written Contest Prizes

2 full scholarships (4 years) to the University of Wisconsin
1 full tuition scholarship (4 year) to Mercy College
To be eligible for this competition, participants must register here. No audition is necessary. Open to High School Seniors.

Each person attending the College Fair MUST Register beforehand- even if you are not participating in the Poetry Slam! See the website to register and for more details.