Who is eligible? Any current Trumbull High School student is eligible to apply, and last year's attendees are more than welcome to apply again this year. The conference field trip date is Wednesday, May 20, 2026.
How do I apply? Students, click HERE to apply. You must be logged into Google (your trumbullps.net account) to access the application (Google form), which requests the following:
Writing sample (At least one original poem of 14 to 30 lines, but no more than two poems)
Essay response of 250-500 words discussing why you want to attend this poetry conference
Digital sign-off from your current English teacher (or Semester 1 English teacher if you're a senior without a S2 English class.)
Digital sign-off from your guidance counselor
Where do I apply? Apply online via the links below.
Application Deadline: 9 AM on Tuesday, March 17, 2026
STUDENTS, click HERE to apply--and don't forget to let your teacher and counselor know they need to click below to recommend you.
TEACHERS, click HERE to digitally recommend/sign off. (There are a few brief questions, but a letter of recommendation is NOT required.) Teachers are welcome to recommend more than one student.
COUNSELORS, click HERE to digitally recommend/sign off. (There are a few brief questions, but a letter of recommendation is NOT required.) Counselors are welcome to recommend more than one student.
What does the conference field trip cost?
There is no cost to the scholarship recipients. A sit-down lunch is provided, along with all registration fees. (However, many poetry books are for sale at the conference, so you will want to bring cash, credit card, or payment app if you want to buy books or other souvenirs!) Thank you to the Trumbull District for generously providing transportation.
Notification Date: Scholarship recipients will be announced by approximately April 1, 2026.
Field Trip Permission Forms Due: Wednesday, May 1. Return forms to (Chaperone TBA)
Conference Field Trip Date: Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (You will be departing from THS at 7:30 AM sharp.)
Conference Location: Mercy by the Sea, 167 Neck Road, Madison, CT 06443-0191
Official Conference Website: http://www.poetrybytheseaconference.org
Teacher Chaperone: Chaperone TBA
Scholarship Coordinator: Nicole Caruso Garcia: email at caruso.poetry.scholarship@gmail.com
Thank you for your enthusiasm and dedication to poetic craft!
To be announced...
(Announcement will be made April 2026)
2025 Recipient (for Educators)
Shannon Van Meter
2024 Recipients
Leah Cohen (Class of 2025)
Victoria Dadson (Class of 2028)
Ashley Engelman (Class of 2024, PBTS 2023 alum)
Sudiksha Gadiraju (Class of 2024, PBTS 2023 alum)
Ali Hassan (Class of 2026, PBTS 2023 alum)
Amberleigh Quiles (Class of 2026)
Stacey Ritenour (Class of 2024, PBTS 2023 alum)
Anouska Singh (Class of 2024)
Madison Slaughter (Class of 2028)
Dani Stewart (Class of 2025)
Arpi Tikranian (Class of 2025)
Lily Von Kohorn (Class of 2024, PBTS 2023 alum)
2023 Recipients
Sahana Balagali (Class of 2024)
Maximus Baldino (Class of 2025 and PBTS 2022 alum)
Sofia Coelho (Class of 2024)
Ashley Engelman (Class of 2024)
Sudiksha Gadiraju (Class of 2024)
Ali Hassan (Class of 2026)
Caitlin Kelly (Class of 2025 and PBTS 2022 alum)
Lily Miller (Class of 2025)
Catalina Mozzo (Class of 2025)
Stacey Ritenour (Class of 2024)
Lillian Von Kohorn (Class of 2024)
2022 Recipients
Max Baldino (Class of 2025)
Bailey Chapin (Class of 2025)
Andria Gerold (Class of 2025)
Caitlin Kelly (Class of 2025)
Olivia Lieby (Class of 2022)
Kaya Patel (Class of 2024)
Olivia Ray (Class of 2023)
Raphael Sullivan (Class of 2023)
2019 Recipients
Christopher Gayda (Class of 2019)
Sarah Gianetti (Class of 2019)
Emily Ingersoll (Class of 2021 and PBTS 2018 alum)
Micaela Korchinski (Class of 2020)
Gabriella Modugno (Class of 2020)
Michael Richardson (Class of 2019)
Kerry St. Preux (Class of 2021)
Rachel Weintraub (Class of 2021 and PBTS 2018 alum)
Grace Xiong (Class of 2021 and PBTS 2018 alum)
2018 Recipients (Inaugural Year)
Clarita Bedoya (Class of 2018)
Emily Ingersoll (Class of 2021)
Regina Misercola (Class of 2019)
Liam Mottolese (Class of 2020)
Arianna Polanco (Class of 2018)
Andrew Ribeiro (Class of 2019)
Rachel A. Weintraub (Class of 2021)
Daejah Woolery (Class of 2018)
Grace Xiong (Class of 2021)