(UNDATED) – The deadline for commitments from Indiana high schools to participate in the 2019-20 Poetry Out Loud recitation process is this Friday, Nov. 22. Schools can learn more about the competition and access the school registration form on the Indiana State Library website.
Initial competitions are held at the high school level to determine one student to represent the school in state final competition on Feb. 15, 2020, at the Indiana State Library. Local competitions must be judged by the same criteria used in the state and national events.
The state champion receives a $200 cash prize and an all-expenses paid trip to Washington, D.C. to compete in the Poetry Out Loud National Finals in April. The state champion’s school receives a $500 stipend to purchase poetry books.
A total of $50,000 in scholarship awards and school stipends will be awarded at the Poetry Out Loud National Finals, with a $20,000 college scholarship awarded to the national champion.
Poetry Out Loud is a partnership between the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation. The program encourages the study of great poetry by offering educational materials and a dynamic recitation competition to high school students across the country.
The Indiana Arts Commission and the Indiana State Library are partners in presenting the Indiana Poetry Out Loud competition. For general information about the national program and competition, visit the national Poetry Out Loud website.
