Poetry Out Loud - recitation contest - Mississippi Arts Commission

2026 Poetry Out Loud Contest

David Lewis and Elayjah Earles 2026 POL State Champion

The Mississippi Arts Commission (MAC) is pleased to announce that Elayjah Earles, a Senior at Mississippi School of the Arts, is the 2026 Mississippi Poetry Out Loud® (POL) State Champion. Atheena Bloodgood, a Senior at Pascagoula High School, placed second, and Nita Hardin, a Junior representing Union County Heritage Museum, placed third.

David Lewis Elayjah Earles Atheena Bloodgood Nita Hardin and Dr. Robert Luckett

Nine high school students from high schools/organizations across the state participated in the Mississippi Poetry Out Loud state finals, which took place at Mississippi Public Broadcasting (MPB) in Jackson, MS, on March 4, 2026.

Elayjah received $200, and the Mississippi School of the Arts received a $500 stipend to purchase poetry materials. As the first runner-up, Athena Bloodgood received $100, with $200 for Pascagoula High School.

Elayjah will advance to the national finals, which are planned to take place in Washington, DC, April 27 – 29, 2026, to compete for the National Champion title and $20,000 grand prize.

About The Program

Poetry Out Loud is a free program created by the National Endowment for the Arts for students in grades 9 – 12. Since 2005, it has helped students in all fifty states, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and improve their reading comprehension scores while learning about their literary heritage.

Through the Poetry Out Loud curriculum, teachers guide students to a deeper, richer understanding of the power of language and literature by helping them develop a personal relationship with great poems. An added benefit is that Poetry Out Loud offers all students the opportunity to compete for awards, prizes, and recognition.

Who Can Participate?

Poetry Out Loud can be conducted virtually or in-person. The program starts at the classroom/school or at the local level with an area organization. Winners then may advance to a regional and/or state competition, and ultimately to the national finals. Awards and placements are determined solely by the judges’ scores based on the Poetry Out Loud Evaluation Criteria.

Any school or homeschool group in Mississippi that teaches students in grades 9 – 12 can register to participate in Poetry Out Loud. Public, private, parochial, alternative, independent, and Christian schools — as well as homeschool groups — are encouraged to participate. Non-school organizations, such as after-school clubs, libraries, or non-profit organizations, may also choose to run Poetry Out Loud. Students may only compete in one stream—either with their school or an organization. Students unable to participate at their school or local organization should contact their state Poetry Out Loud coordinator to discuss other opportunities for inclusion in the state’s official competition.

Registration Form

Contest Structure And Awards

Poetry Out Loud National Recitation Contest begins at the classroom level. Winners advance to school-wide contests, regional contests, state finals, and, ultimately, to the National Contest held in Washington, D.C. The State Champion receives $200 and an all-expense-paid trip to Washington to compete in the National Contest. The Champion’s school receives a $500 stipend for the purchase of poetry materials. The runner-up receives $100, with $200 going to his or her school library. At the National Contest, contestants can win $1000, $5000, $10,000 or the grand prize of $20,000.

Program Materials And Schedule

Schools that register to participate in Poetry Out Loud will receive free curriculum materials, including online poetry anthologies, a teacher’s guide to help instructors teach recitation and performance, promotional and media guides, a comprehensive website, and support from the Mississippi Arts Commission and the POL State Coordinator. Schools that choose not to register may still access the Poetry Out Loud website and use the materials available there.

Questions? See the Frequently Asked Questions for Poetry Out Loud.