Students in kindergarten to 12th grade who live in Stanislaus County or attend school there are invited to enter the 18th annual Aileen Jaffa Young Poets Contest.

Poems may be of any style but no longer than 24 lines and must be the original creative work of the student.

Each student may submit up to three entries at $1 per entry.

Submissions must be postmarked before midnight April 12. Winners will be notified by May 10.

The winning poems in each age group will be read at an awards ceremony at 1 p.m. May 18 in the auditorium of the Stanislaus County Library, 1500 I St., in Modesto.

The contest includes the following awards: first place, $25, second place, $15, third place, $10 in each of the four categories. Those categories are kindergarten through third grade; fourth through sixth grade; seventh through ninth grade and 10th through 12th grade.

The awards were established to honor the memory of Aileen Jaffa, who was the founding president of Poets of the San Joaquin and a member of the Modesto Branch of the National League of American Pen Women.

Carol David, president of the Modesto Branch of NLAPW, will present the awards.

Forms are available at local schools and in Modesto at the McHenry Museum, 1402 I St., or the Mistlin Gallery, 1015 J St.

For information: Cleo Griffith, 543-1776