News & Events: National Finals

2009 Poetry Out Loud on CBS Watch the CBS News Sunday Morning feature on Poetry Out Loud. Poetry Out Loud Learning Recitation Video This Learning Recitation 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. Photo Gallery Browse photographs of all 52 state champions.

THE 2010 NATIONAL FINALS

From a competitive field of nearly 325,000 students nationwide, 16-year-old Amber Rose Johnson of Providence, Rhode Island, won the title of 2010 Poetry Out Loud National Champion at the National Finals held in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, April 27. With her achievement, Johnson also receives a $20,000 award and her high school, Classical High School, receives a $500 stipend for the purchase of poetry books.

One of Johnson’s earlier recitations was William Shakespeare’s Sonnet 116, “Let me not to the marriage of true minds.” Actor and comedian John Leguizamo, who hosted the competition, asked Johnson why she selected the Shakespeare poem. “I chose 116 because I think the meaning of love gets distorted,” said Johnson. “It’s important to get back to the essence.”

“That’s what I tell my wife all the time,” said Leguizamo.

The second-place winner was Ruth Haile of Lincoln High School in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, who received a $10,000 award. The Maryland state champion, Nora Sandler, of Richard Montgomery High School in Bethesda, received the third-place prize and a $5,000 award.

The other finalists were Youssef Biaz (AL); Annette Putnam (IL); Diego Javier Steele (MT); Emily Orellana (NV); Tia Robinson (VA); and Madeline Bunke (WI). Honorable mention awards went to Barbara Gooding (KY); Brianna Anderson (ND); and Shantelle Eddy (VI).

Guest judges presiding over the final rounds of competition on Tuesday night included radio host Garrison Keillor, actress and activist Alfre Woodard, poets Valerie Martínez and Jane Shore, poet and critic Adam Kirsch, and 2009 Poetry Out Loud National Champion William Farley. Guest judges evaluating recitations during the semifinal rounds on Monday included Francisco Aragόn, Ibtisam Barakat, Holly Bass, Terry Blackhawk, Christian Conn, Patricia Gray, Doug Herbert, and Keith Leonard.

Download the program from the 2010 National Finals
Photographs of all 53 state champions
Read the 2010 Champion Announcement

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 received a $20,000 award and his high school, Washington-Lee High School, received a $500 stipend for the purchase of poetry books. As part of the recognition of excellence and achievement, Farley also had the opportunity to recite a poem at the rededication of the Lincoln Memorial.

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