National Finals
March 23, 2020
National Finals Cancelled Due to Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Federal Guidelines to slow the spread of the Coronavirus-19 require avoiding social gatherings in groups of more than 10 people, and avoiding discretionary travel for the foreseeable future. Out of care for the health and safety of students, parents, and everyone involved in Poetry Out Loud, the National Finals Competition scheduled for April 27 – 29th in Washington D.C. is cancelled.
The Poetry Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts understand that many people have committed long hours preparing for the POL Finals Competition, and we share in your disappointment. In the weeks to come, we will explore ways to honor the achievements of the 2020 Poetry Out Loud State Champions.
For more information regarding the Coronavirus-19, please visit coronavirus.gov.
Should you have specific questions or concerns, please email poetryoutloud@arts.gov.
State Finals
Information on the time, date, and location of State Finals will be updated as more competitions are scheduled and planned. Find your state’s Poetry Out Loud coordinator here.
| State/Territory | Date | Location | Winner & School |
| Alabama | March 2 | Alabama Shakespeare Festival | Katarina Agnew, New Century Technology HS |
| Alaska | March 12 | Asya Gipson, West Anchorage HS | |
| Arizona | March 7 | Burton Barr Central Library | Sylvia Dale, Ganado HS |
| Arkansas | State Final cancelled due to COVID-19. Contact State Arts Agency for more details | ||
| California | State Final held virtually due to COVID-19 | Eden Getahun, CK McClatchy HS | |
| Colorado | March 3 | Lakewood Cultural Center | Kiya Cockrell, Fountain Valley School of CO |
| Connecticut | State Final cancelled due to COVID-19. Contact State Arts Agency for more details | ||
| Delaware | February 25 | Camille Decker, Sanford School | |
| District of Columbia | March 11 | 200 I Street, SE, Suite 1400, Washington, DC 20003 | Kayla Park, Washington Latin PCS |
| Florida | February 29 | University of South Florida | Zhaedyn Hodge Sigars, Howard W Blake HS |
| Georgia | State Final held virtually due to COVID-19 | Grayson Nour, Whitefield Academy | |
| Hawaii | March 1 | Tenney Theatre | Erisan Awaya, Mid-Pacific Institute |
| Idaho | March 7 | Kieran Ellis, Kuna HS | |
| Illinois | March 2 | Hoogland Center for the Arts | Charles Hsu, Deerfield HS |
| Indiana | February 15 | Dalia Elkhatib, Franklin Central HS | |
| Iowa | March 8 | Amya Thornton, Holmes Jr High | |
| Kansas | February 29 | Salina South HS | Santiago Vasquez, Salina South HS |
| Kentucky | March 3 | Grand Theatre | Skye Kozloski, Allen County Scottsville HS |
| Louisiana | March 7 | Capitol Park Museum | Jacob Simmons, Covington HS |
| Maine | March 2 | Ella Shaffer, Rangeley Lakes Regional School | |
| Maryland | March 7 | Center Stage | Randolph Smith, Concordia Preparatory HS |
| Massachusetts | March 8 | Old South Meeting House | Anya Barrett, Worcester Technical HS |
| Michigan | State Final cancelled due to COVID-19. Contact State Arts Agency for more details | ||
| Minnesota | February 25 | Minnesota State University | Jay Mackbee, Minneapolis Washburn HS |
| Mississippi | February 27 | MPB Studios | Morgan Love, Mississippi School of the Arts |
| Missouri | March 12 | Harry S. Truman State Office Building | Mary Margaret Hughes, Central HS |
| Montana | March 7 | Grandstreet Theatre | Isabella Shinn, Flathead HS |
| Nebraska | March 8 | Sheldon Museum of Art | Juan De La Cruz, Gordon-Rushville HS |
| Nevada | State Final held virtually due to COVID-19. | Eakjot Sekhorn, Robert McQueen HS | |
| New Hampshire | State Final held virtually due to COVID-19 | NH State House | Sydney Kilgore, Concord HS |
| New Jersey | State Final cancelled due to COVID-19. Contact State Arts Agency for more details | ||
| New Mexico | March 8 | New Mexico Museum of Art | Zoe Callan, Native American Community Academy |
| New York | March 7 | FIT University | Zaida Rio Polanco, White Plains HS |
| North Carolina | February 22 | Triad Stage | Marrianna Flores, Atkins HS |
| North Dakota | February 24 | ND Heritage Center & State Museum | Maria Kalb, St. Mary’s Central HS |
| Ohio | March 6 | King Arts Complex | Austin Smith, Bexley HS |
| Oklahoma | March 5 | University of Central Oklahoma | Piper Lloyd, Bethany HS |
| Oregon | State Final cancelled due to COVID-19. Contact State Arts Agency for more details | ||
| Pennsylvania | March 9 | State Museum | Steven File, York Suburban HS |
| Puerto Rico | State Final cancelled due to COVID-19. Contact State Arts Agency for more details | ||
| Rhode Island | March 8 | RISD Museum of Art | Nayeli Santana Vazquez |
| South Carolina | State Final held virtually due to COVID-19 | Taylor Wade, Andrew Jackson HS | |
| South Dakota | State Final cancelled due to COVID-19. Contact State Arts Agency for more details | ||
| Tennessee | State Final cancelled due to COVID-19. Contact State Arts Agency for more details | Tennessee State Museum | |
| Texas | February 22 | Bullock Texas State History Museum | Elizabeth Barnes, Saint Constantine School |
| Utah | March 11 | Westminster College | Olivia Slaughter, Salt Lake Center for Science Education |
| Vermont | State Final cancelled due to COVID-19. Contact State Arts Agency for more details | Vermont PBS Studios | |
| Virgin Islands | State Final held virtually due to COVID-19 | Angelica Sterling, St Thomas/St John Seventh Day Adventist School | |
| Virginia | State Final held virtually due to COVID-19 | VPM PBS Richmond | Katherine Nguyen, Colonial Forge HS |
| Washington | March 7 | Tacoma Museum of Glass | Jordan Mattox, Mead HS |
| West Virginia | State Final held virtually due to COIVID-19 | Rhéa Ming, Spring Mills HS | |
| Wisconsin | March 7 | UW-Madison Pyle Center | Daeja Loew, Altoona HS |
| Wyoming | March 2 | Cheyenne Civic Center | Abbi Wingfield, Thunder Basin HS |