The Latin American Alliance has announced its annual Spanish Literature Contest, which will have the theme "The Family." The contest, which accepts poetry and short stories, is open to all students of the Lancaster-Lebanon IU 13 area studying the Spanish language, including students in middle school, high school, a college or university, or a trade school.

With the desire to encourage and stimulate the learning, use, and mastery of the Spanish language, the Latin American Alliance organizes the contest each spring. The theme of "The Family" reflects an important dynamic within the Hispanic culture.

The submitted works will be judged on their originality, creativity, and literary quality, along with correct usage of grammar, verb tenses, extent of vocabulary, and creativity of expression and presentation. After review by the judges, who are Hispanic business and community leaders, teachers, and musicians, the winners will be determined in each of the four divisions, based on the students' Spanish level. Recognition and monetary prizes for first, second, and third places will be awarded in special ceremonies. Additionally, winners will be invited to share their poems in an event to be celebrated during Hispanic Heritage Month.

For more information and complete contest rules, along with the submission form, can be found visit http://www.latinamera.org/literature-contest. Questions can be emailed to laca.lanco@gmail.com. The deadline for submissions is midnight on Thursday, March 31.

This contest is one of the many programs of the Latin American Alliance to promote, maintain, celebrate, and share the Spanish language and the Latin American culture in Lancaster County. To learn more, visit http://www.latinamera.org.