About Poetry Out Loud
Poetry Out Loud is a national poetry recitation competition for high school students. By encouraging youth to learn about great poetry through memorization and performance, students can master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn about their literary heritage.
Participating high schools host their own competitions and select a student to represent their school at the state finals. The state champion will advance to the national finals in Washington, D.C. and compete for a $20,000 college scholarship. School champions will be invited to participate in the Michigan Youth Arts Festival, a three-day event featuring the finest artistic talent in Michigan high schools. More than 15,000 students from at least 50 Michigan high schools have participated in Poetry Out Loud programs since 2005.
Harron Atkins, a senior at Cass Technical High School in Detroit, is the 2011 Michigan Poetry Out Loud champion. Atkins bested 30 other high school students at the state championship on March 12 in East Lansing. At nationals, Atkins advanced to the final round of his region. Youssef Biaz, of Auburn, Alabama, was named 2011 Poetry Out Loud National Champion. More than 365,000 students nationwide competed in this year's program.
Michigan Poetry Out Loud 2011-12
The Michigan Poetry Out Loud State Championship will be held March 9-10, 2012 at Saginaw Valley State University, Rhea F. Miller Recital Hall. The two-day event will begin with Round One on Friday, March 9, and with Round Two and the Final Round on Saturday, March 10.
After the completion of Round One, the InsideOut Literary Arts Project will facilitate interactive events for all Poetry Out Loud participants. InsideOut is locatd in Detroit and engages youth in the pleasure and power of reading and writing. The program places professional writers in schools to assist youth in developing self-expression and provide them opportunities to publish and perform their work. Terry Blackhawk, founder and CEO of InsideOut, announced recently that the organization received the "Champion in Action" award from Charter One and WXYZ-TV Channel 7 for their amazing work with developing youth initiatives. The Michigan Humanities Council is thrilled to welcome Terry Blackhawk and members from InsideOut Literary Arts Project to the Michigan Poetry Out Loud State Competition.
Following completion of the Final Round, the state champion will be announced and honored at a reception hosted by the Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum and the Michigan Humanities Council. All participants, families and chaperones are invited to the museum's reception.
2011-2012 Contest Schedule
- February 3, 2012. Deadline to submit school champion.
- March 9 & 10, 2012. State Championship (Saginaw Valley State University)
- March 9 - Round One, followed by dinner and an evening event for participants
- March 10 - Round Two and the Final Round, followed by a museum reception
- May 10-12, 2012. Michigan Youth Arts Festival
- May 14-15, 2012. National Finals, Washington, DC.
Teacher Resources
Additional questions or for more information: Contact Robin Soergel (rsoergel [at] mihumanities.org).
Prizes
The state winner will receive $200 and an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C. to compete for the national championship. The state winner’s school will receive a $500 stipend for the purchase of poetry books. The runner-up in the state competition will receive $100, along with $200 for his or her school library. Scholarships and school stipends totaling $50,000 will be awarded at the national finals, with a $20,000 college scholarship for the
Poetry Out Loud national champion. All Michigan finalists are invited to participate in the
Michigan Youth Arts Festival, with the four state finalists receiving scholarships to attend the Festival on behalf of the Council.
Michigan Poetry Out Loud Champions
- 2011 Champion: Harron Atkins, Cass Technical High School, Detroit
- 2010 Champion: Lauren Treiber, Forest Hills Central High School, Grand Rapids
- 2009 Champion: Daniel Bellomy, Cass Technical High School, Detroit
- 2008 Champion: Charles White, Forest Hills Central High School, Grand Rapids
- 2007 Champion: Sarah Harris, Holt High School
- 2006 Champion: Travis Walter, Holt High School
