From August 2024 through September 2025, the United States is welcoming the return of Lafayette, the young French hero of the American Revolution! In 1824 and 1825 Lafayette visited all 24 states as “The Nation’s Guest.”
To celebrate, the Lafayette Society of Fayetteville, North Carolina, has established a creativity contest in which local poets and videographers can create works exemplifying the spirit of Lafayette’s values.
Congratulations to our inaugural winners! Poem texts and direct links to the videos on YouTube are below the announcement.
1st Place: Devin Tew
2nd Place: Owen Lucas
Marquis de Lafayette: A Champion for Human Rights in Modern America
3rd Place: Faith Sommers
Video Contest (Submission window closed!)
The objective of the Fayette Video Contest is to encourage and promote excellence in creative expression in the video and film arts through developing an awareness and an appreciation for Lafayette’s timeless principles:
liberty, human rights, equality, religious tolerance, and the abolition of slavery.
Video Competition Guidelines
- Competition is open to current or former Cumberland County residents, current students, and Fort Liberty, formerly Fort Bragg.
- One submission per individual, group, or team.
- Video, music, and lyrics must be the work of the video artists and producers.
- The video must be under four minutes.
- Rating should be PG13 or lower.
- Proper credit should be given to all performers and participants.
Submission Guidelines
- Submission must be hosted on YouTube and a direct link provided with the submission form.
- Submissions are for Lafayette Society Video Contest only.
- The Lafayette Society assumes no responsibility or liability for the content of any of the video materials.
- Submission deadline was December 1, 2024 but we have extended it to FEBRUARY 10th, 2025!
Winning Videos
- First Place: $700
- Second Place: $300
- Third Place: $100
Copyright and Use of Videos by Lafayette Society
- The author retains copyright of the submitted video. However, the author grants the Lafayette Society the right to publish the video in the electronic media in perpetuity by virtue of entering the Lafayette Society Video Competition.
Click here to download the RELEASE FORM – this MUST BE COMPLETED AND ATTACHED TO YOUR EMAIL in order for your entry to be valid!
Submit the link to your video (via email) HERE!
Questions? Email us!
Poetry Contest (Submission window closed!)
Unleash the power of your poetic spirit in the Lafayette Poetry Contest! The competition aims to ignite and celebrate the brilliance of your words through fostering a profound connection with Lafayette’s enduring principles:
liberty, human rights, equality, religious tolerance, and the abolition of slavery.
Poetry Contest Rules:
- Competition is open to current or former Cumberland County residents, current students, and Fort Liberty, formerly Fort Bragg.
- One submission per author.
- Online entries are welcome through Lafayette Society website. Confirmation will be acknowledged at the time of submission.
- The Lafayette Society appointed judges’ decision is final.
- Lafayette Society Board members or officers are not eligible to enter the competition.
Lafayette Poetry Competition Submission:
- All poems are judged anonymously.
- The author’s name must not appear on the submitted poem.
- Poem title must appear at the top of the first page.
- Poems must not exceed 25 lines in length.
- Poems must be written in the English language.
- Poems must be the original work of the author.
- Entries must not have been published in any media, print or electronic.
Lafayette Poetry Competition Winners
- Deadline for submission is December 1, 2024.
- Prizewinners will be notified by February 1, 2025.
- Winners will be invited to perform their work at the 2025 Lafayette Bicentennial Luncheon on March 2, 2025.
- All winners must provide a biography and photograph.
- All poets will be notified about the outcome of their submissions.
- Poems may not be altered once winners are announced.
- The author retains copyright of the submitted poem. However, the author grants the Lafayette Society of Fayetteville the right to publish the poem in print or electronic media in perpetuity by virtue of entering the Lafayette Poetry Competition.
Lafayette Poetry Competition Prizes
- First Place Winner: $400
- Second Place Winner: $200
- Third Place Winner: $100
Click here to download the RELEASE FORM – this MUST BE COMPLETED AND ATTACHED TO YOUR EMAIL in order for your entry to be valid!
Questions? Email us!