Pierce County Library System invites teenagers throughout Pierce County to show their creative talents in Our Own Expressions Teen Writing & Art Contest. The 19th annual contest runs Jan. 16 through Feb. 22, 2015.

Teenagers in grades 7-12 who live in or attend school in Pierce County may enter the contest, individually or as a team, in one or all four categories: poetry, short story, photography and drawing. Participation in the contest is free.

Entry forms will be available starting Jan. 16 at any Pierce County Library or at www.piercecountylibrary.org, search site: OOX.

Judges will review writing entries on the basis of originality, style, general presentation, grammar, spelling, and evidence of skill appropriate for the writer’s age. They will review art entries on the basis of composition, evidence of skill commensurate with the age of the artist, creativity, and effective use of media.

The library system will publish all the winning contest entries and distribute them throughout Pierce County libraries and to the winning students’ schools. Pierce County Library Foundation will award cash prizes in three age groups: grades 7/8, grades 9/10 and grades 11/12; and in the four categories.

Contest winners will have their work featured in an awards ceremony at Pacific Lutheran University on May 27.

Last year, students representing 80 Pierce County schools submitted 940 poems, short stories, drawings and photographs.

The News Tribune, Pacific Lutheran University and Print NW help fund the contest.