Attention Teachers and Students! Illinois K-12 students are invited to participate in a poetry contest highlighting the life and work of President Ronald Reagan.

Students compete in elementary, middle school and high school divisions. Local contest winners enter the area-wide competition (regional offices), and winners of that competition will receive a $50 gift certificate to Barnes and Noble and advance to the state-wide competition. Kevin Stein, Poet Laureate of Illinois, will be the final judge.

First and second place winners will attend an award ceremony at the Lincoln Presidential Library in Springfield on April 8, 2011, and receive an I-Pad from the Illinois Press Association.Teachers of the statewide winners will receive a prize valued at $50!

Submit your poem to your Regional Office of Education or Intermediate Service Center (directory at www.iarss.org) by January 15, 2011. For information about the life and work of President Reagan, please visit www.leeogle.org (click on Poetry for the President).