The Indiana Arts Commission (IAC) announced today that students representing fifteen high schools from around the state will compete in the virtual Indiana Poetry Out Loud State Finals. The Poetry Out Loud State Finals will occur live on Wednesday, March 9th at 5:30PM ET (4:30 PM CT).
Since 2005, the National Endowment for the Arts, Poetry Foundation, and Indiana Arts Commission have worked with Indiana schools, teachers, and organizations to bring students a unique way to learn and love poetry. Through Poetry Out Loud, students read, memorize, and recite classic and contemporary poems.
The fifteen students taking part in the 2022 Poetry Out Loud State Finals include:
Tilly Robinson, Bloomington High School South
Kenlie Thomas, Bluffton High School
Madeline Phuong, Homestead High School
Aalihya Banks, Pike High School
Taylor Bush, Franklin Central High School
Mikayla Holstein, Indiana Connections Academy
Lila Ward, Columbia City High School, Eagle Tech Academy
Layla Sanders, Columbus Signature Academy New Tech High School
Sreepadaarchana Munjuluri, Columbus North High School
Destiny Wells, Indiana Digital Learning School
Hannah Coe, Monroe Central Jr.-Sr. High School
Gabriel Porter, West Washington Jr.-Sr. High School
Claudia Buschkoetter, Jasper High School
Jehanna Fisher, Early College High School
Madison Sherman, Forest Park Jr.-Sr. High School
The virtual finals will be hosted by Lucia Walker and Jayden Baskin. Lucia Walker is the 2021 Indiana Poetry Out Loud State Champion and a recent graduate of Bloomington High School South. Jayden Baskin is the 2021 Poetry Ourselves State Champion and a recent graduate of Pike High School.
The State Champion receives a $200 cash prize and the Champion's school receives a $500 stipend to purchase poetry books. Each State Finalist will receive an original Poetry Out Loud screen print by artist Tahj Mullins and a book of poetry.
Poetry Out Loud is a national partnership between the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation.
Click here to register for the 2022 Indiana Poetry Out Loud State Finals direct stream link.