The Poetry Prize
To honor the life and legacy of our beloved Carol Ann Moon—talented Florida poet and accomplished Saint Leo professor and librarian—this inaugural prize will be awarded to a single poem submitted by any poet who resides in the state of Florida and/or who’s a member of the Saint Leo University community, regardless of their current location. Our Vol. 28 theme is Creation, which can be interpreted broadly. The winning poet will receive:
A cash prize of $100
A featured publication in Sandhill Review Vol. 28, as well as an announcement on our Instagram page
Acknowledgment at our launch party on April 1, 2027
Our 2026-2027 judge is poet, professor, Inaugural Wordsmith of the City of Tampa, and former Sandhill Review Editor-in-Chief Gianna Russo.
The winner will be announced in March 2027.
Limits and How to Submit
We are charging a $3 fee to submit to the prize, which will go towards supporting Sandhill Review and our creative writing programs.
Submit up to 3 poems, any length, 12-point font, each new poem beginning on a new page.
All submissions must be previously unpublished.
No bigotry, no graphic content, no AI-assisted work.
Please do not include your name on the poems themselves.
Email your submission as a single PDF or Word file attachment to sandhillreview@gmail.com.
Label your email subject line: Your Name, Poetry Prize (i.e. Anne Barngrover, Poetry Prize).
In the body of your email, include a brief bio to let us know who you are (and feel free to say hello!). Let us know your connection to Florida and/or Saint Leo University.
Simultaneous submissions are fine, but if you are accepted elsewhere and need to withdraw a submission or part of a submission, please email us ASAP.
All submissions to the Carol Ann Moon Poetry Prize will be considered for publication in Sandhill Review Vol. 28. You may also submit 3 different poems for consideration as a free Regular Submission.
Deadline: December 15, 2026 at 11:59 PM EST
For any questions, please email Editor-in-Chief Anne Barngrover at sandhillreview@gmail.com.