Save the Date for Poetry Out Loud

Don't miss out on an amazing opportunity to see powerful poetry recitation by high school students throughout Michigan.

The Michigan Poetry Out Loud Championship will be held March 9 and 10 at Saginaw Valley State University's Rhea Miller Recital Hall. Click here for more details about the event.

These inspiring students will compete for their chance to be called the Michigan Poetry Out Loud Champion and advance to the national Poetry Out Loud Championship, to be held in Washington, D.C., in May.

Poetry Out Loud is a national recitation competition, made possible in Michigan by the Humanities Council and Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs. Each partnering school holds a school-wide championship, and each school champion represents their school at the state level.

Kelly Stec, a freshman at Michigan State University and intern for the Humanities Council, competed in the program while attending Roosevelt High School in Wyandotte. Below is a brief recount of her experience in Poetry Out Loud and what she learned from participating in the program.

I would not be the person I am today if it were not for (Poetry Out Loud). I have gained huge advantages in my ability to do close reading and the understanding that, particularly in poetry, every single word means something. I am certain that my success on the AP Literature test is largely due to that which I learned from Poetry Out Loud. Most importantly, though, I have learned to cherish the difference between teacher and educator. I will always be grateful for the confidence that Mr. (Robert) Keast and Mr.(Warren) Baker inspired in me; they have shown me what it truly means to care. Now that I work as an intern for the Michigan Humanities Council, I feel that every teacher should be made aware of the huge impact they have the potential to make through Poetry Out Loud. It takes time and effort, yes, but the great love, respect, and gratefulness received in return is irreplaceable.

For more information on Poetry Out Loud, visit our website at www.michiganhumanities.org or stay updated by liking us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/MichiganHumanitiesCouncil.

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