Student writers have two opportunities to submit their work for prizes and recognition.

The deadline for submitting entries in the 2002 Katey Lehman Creative Writing Awards Contest is Feb. 1. The competition, which is sponsored by Penn State's College of the Liberal Arts and College of Communications, is open to all Penn State undergraduates who have at least sophomore standing.

The Katey Lehman Creative Writing Awards are made annually in poetry, fiction and nonfiction/journalism. Entrants may submit no more than four poems, one short story or one nonfiction/journalism article in each category. The prize in all three categories is $750.

Application forms are available by mail or in person from the Department of English, 103 Burrowes Building, or online at http://english.la.psu.edu/details.asp?element=390&id=57. Winners will be announced March 15.

A second, unrelated contest, the Violence Policy Center (VPC), also recently was announced. The Alexander Hamilton Second Amendment Student Writing Competition will award a $3,000 cash prize to the best article or law review note critically examining the debate about the Second Amendment in the wake of the recent decision of a federal appeals court in New Orleans in U.S. v. Emerson.

Law students and graduate students in history, political science and related disciplines are eligible to enter the competition. Entries must be postmarked by June 3.