The Ministry of Education is delighted to announce that 18 year old Brendon La Touche, a student of the T.A. Marryshow Community College has been nominated Poet of the Year 2006 by the International Society of Poets, Maryland, USA.

The 18 year old student from St. Paul's entered the competition by submitting his poem entitled ³Time² on the Website www.poetry.com.

Brendon has been personally invited to read his poem at the 20th Anniversary of the International Society of Poets Convention and Symposium to be held July 20-23 in Las Vegas, Nevada, the single largest gathering of poets from around the world.

Brendon will be inducted as an International Poet of Merit and Honored member of the Society, and presented with two separate and very special awards for his poetic achievement.

First to commemorate his poetic achievement, after he reads his poem in front of fellow poets from over 50 nations around the world, he will be presented with his very own International Outstanding Achievement in Poetry Crystal Award Trophy.

This will be the first time ever that the society will be bestowing these crystal awards which have been specifically commissioned in honour of the 20th anniversary.

The Society will also present La Touche with a beautifully crafted, antique bronze Commemorative Award Medallion to honour his poetic dedication and achievements.

Should Brendon win the coveted Poet of the Year 2006 title, he will receive a grand prize of US$20,000.00, and a US$10,000.00 book publishing contract.

Brendon's poem Time has already been published by the International Society of Poets in a book entitled Twilight Musings.