The New York Knicks will announce New York City’s top teen poet at the Knicks Poetry Slam Final Competition tomorrow night and distribute more than $250,000 in scholarships and prizes. This year’s show features 14 talented poets from across the tri-state area, Knicks players Nate Robinson, Chris Duhon and Jared Jeffries, along with music by celebrity DJ Cipha Sounds from radio station Hot 97.

 

In November, more than 1,300 people attended the Knicks Poetry Slam Open Audition and College Fair at Madison Square Garden, during which time students had the opportunity to enter two contests, in written and spoken word poetry. In the written contest category, three high school seniors will win full tuition four-year scholarships to college: two to the University of Wisconsin and one to Mercy College. In the spoken word competition, the top 150 entrants were selected from the Open Audition to participate in poetry workshops run by program partner Urban Word NYC, and 14 poets were selected to compete in the final competition. The first place winner will be awarded a $10,000 educational grant, $25,000 in Nike branded equipment donated to the winner’s school and a laptop computer. All finalists will receive prizes, including a customized pair of NIKEiD shoes.

 

Knicks Poetry Slam was created in 2003 to reach today’s high school youth by using the popularity of hip-hop and poetry as a vehicle to motivate and inspire expression through the written and spoken word. With the growth of the program, the Knicks and Urban Word NYC have provided greater opportunities for students to use their poetic skills and talents to pursue higher education.

 

WHO:                     Knicks Players Nate Robinson, Chris Duhon and Jared Jeffries

                                Knicks Alumni Earl Monroe, John Starks, Cal Ramsey, and Anthony Bonner

Hot 97 DJ Cipha Sounds

                                Blue Erro Soul recording artist Eric Roberson and Interscope recording artist Charles Hamilton

                                Hosted by Michael Ellison of HBO’s Def Poetry

 

WHAT:                   The NY Knicks, Urban Word NYC and Knicks Poetry Slam sponsors – Nike, Hot 97, Kiss FM, The Hymowitz Family Foundation and The Joan Goldstein Education Foundation – will be hosting the Knicks Poetry Slam Program’s Final Competition and award more than $250,000 in scholarships and prizes.

 

WHEN:                  Tuesday, March 3, 2009  

7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. (Doors Open at 6:00 p.m.)

 

WHERE:                The Grand Ballroom at the Manhattan Center

311 West 34th street – between Eighth and Ninth Avenues

CONTACTS: Sammy Steinlight (212) 465-6401 & Mandy Gutmann (212) 465-6394

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