News & Events: National Finals

2009 Performance Videos Click here for poems from 2009’s top 3 finishers as well as other select recitations and a performance by recording artist Natalie Merchant. Poetry Out Loud Best Performances Video This "Best Performances" video was created to illustrate the art of poetry recitation for Poetry Out Loud: National Recitation Contest. Watch the video and read the accompanying guide here. Poetry Out Loud 2006 National Finals Video Produced by WGBH Educational Foundation and renowned filmmaker David Grubin, this short video highlights the 2006 National Finals. Interviews with state champions reveal how they got involved in the competition, and how it transformed their ideas about poetry and themselves. 12 minutes. QuickTime: Windows : Real Note on accessibility: the video is captioned. In Quicktime, click on "CC" to turn captions on or off. Audio of 2006 National Finalists Jackson Hille Poetry Out Loud National Champion Ohio "Forgetfulness" by Billy Collins Windows | Real Teal Van Dyck Second place winner New Hampshire "Siren Song" by Margaret Atwood Windows | Real Kellie Taulia Anae Third place winner Hawaii "Hysteria" by Dionisio D. Martínez Windows | Real Photo Gallery Browse photographs of all 52 state champions.

THE 2010 NATIONAL FINALS
The 2010 National Finals will be held at the George Washington University Lisner Auditorium in Washington, DC. Semifinal rounds will take place all day on Monday, April 26 and the Finals will be held in the evening on Tuesday, April 27. Admission is free and open to the public.
Find your individual state final here.

THE 2009 NATIONAL FINALS

National Champion, William Farley advanced to the National Championship from a field of competition that involved more than 1,500 high schools and 300,000 high school students across the country. He receives a $20,000 award and his high school, Washington-Lee High School, will receive a $500 stipend for the purchase of poetry books.

As part of the recognition of excellence and achievement, Farley also will have the opportunity to recite a poem at the rededication of the Lincoln Memorial in May 2009, an event sponsored by the National Park Service in Washington, DC.

The second-place winner was Barbara Gooding of Western Hills High school in Frankfort, Kentucky, who received a $10,000 award. The Illinois State Champion, Kareem Sayegh of University Laboratory High School in Champaign, Illinois, received the third place prize and a $5,000 award. In addition, each of the top 12 finalists received a $1,000 award. The twelve finalists' schools received $500 each for the purchase of poetry books.

The other 12 finalists include Erik Hollis of Arizona; Kaleena Rose Kovach of Colorado; Madeline E. Roger of Kansas, Will Whitham of Maine; Peter Winfrey of Missouri; Mido Aly of Ohio; Wiyaka His Horse Is Thunder of South Dakota; Stanley Andrew Jackson III of Texas; and Audrey Kiely of Vermont.

Guest judges presided over the competition, including Garrison Keillor, host of the radio show "A Prairie Home Companion," award-winning actress Tyne Daly, journalist Jeffrey Brown, founder of Quest: arts for everyone Tim McCarty, and poets Suji Kwock-Kim, Patricia Smith, and Luis Rodriguez. Singer-songwriter Natalie Merchant gave a special performance of poetry-inspired songs. Scott Simon of National Public Radio served as master of ceremonies.

Download the program from the 2009 National Finals
Photographs of all 53 state champions
Read the 2009 Champion Announcement

THE 2008 NATIONAL FINALS

With a fan club including her family, friends, English teacher, poetry coach, and members of the Virgin Islands Council on the Arts, 16-year-old Shawntay Henry of the United States Virgin Islands captured the audience with her poetry recitations and was named the 2008 Poetry Out Loud National Champion. Along with her title, Henry, a 10th grade student at Charlotte Amalie High School, received a $20,000 award. Henry was among 12 finalists and 52 state champions from around the country who participated in the third annual national poetry recitation contest on April 29, sponsored by the Poetry Foundation and National Arts Endowment.

Download the program from the 2008 National Finals
Photographs of all 52 state champions
Read the 2008 Champion Announcement

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE 2007 NATIONAL FINALS

The Poetry Out Loud National Finals were held on May 1, at the George Washington University Lisner Auditorium in Washington, DC. Presiding special guest judges included Jackson Hille, the 2006 National Champion and Garrison Keillor, host of the radio show "A Prairie Home Companion." Under the careful assessment of six judges, three top performers were chosen: Amanda Fernandez, District of Columbia; Branden Emanual Wellington, Indiana; and Alanna Rivera, Virginia.
Download the Program from the 2007 National Finals
Read the 2007 National Finals press release

HIGHLIGHTS FROM 2006 NATIONAL RECITATION CONTEST

In May 2006, 51 state champions came to Washington, D.C., to compete in the national finals of Poetry Out Loud : National Recitation Contest. They gathered at the historic Lincoln Theater in Washington, D.C., to match their skills in poetry memorization and recitation. After an exciting day of non-stop recitation, a high-school senior from Ohio, Jackson Hille, was crowned National Champion and winner of the 1st place $20,000 award.
Download the Program from the 2006 National Finals
Read the press release from the 2006 National Finals