The Connecticut Young Writers Competition is a great way to showcase your talent and maybe win cash prizes.  From their website:

"Teenage writers of prose and poetry from across Connecticut, ages 13-18, are being encouraged to submit original entries to an annual literary competition which awards winning entrants with cash prizes and an opportunity to have their work published in the literary journal of the Connecticut State University System, CT Review.

During this academic year, two young writers from each of Connecticut's eight counties will win cash awards for either prose or poetry writing. Entries must be nominated by a teacher in a public or private school, and postmarked on or before February 1, 2010. Home school entries are also accepted."

The kickoff event for the 2010 competition will be on January 15 at the Hartford Club.  Entitled "Triple Knockout Event," there will be open workshops on how to write poetry and sports stories, as well as afternoon events with authors and poets.  There will be a boxing exhibition and the national anthem will be sung by an up and coming singer. 

Whether you attend the Triple Knockout Event or not, the Connecticut Young Writer's Competition is a good chance to improve your skills, win prizes and get published.  Talk to your teachers about which of your stories or poems might be a good choice to submit, and fill out an entry form.