Poetry Out Loud - recitation contest - Mississippi Arts Commission

2023 Poetry Out Loud Competition

The 2023 Mississippi Poetry Out Loud State Champion Edward Wilson Jr., a senior at Jackson Prep, placed 2nd in the National 2023 Poetry Out Loud Finals. Congratulations Edward!

Mississippi 2023 Poetry Out Loud Competition

State Champion – Edward Wilson Jr., a senior at Jackson Preparatory School

2nd Place – Kalen Wallace, a junior at Northwest Rankin High School

3rd Place – Melany Carrasco, a junior at Pascagoula High School

Click here to read the full press release.

About The Program

Poetry Out Loud is a free program created by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation 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?

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 or organizations and school-sponsored afterschool programs — are encouraged to participate. Individual students, individual homeschools, and community groups or programs (clubs, Centers, etc.) cannot register to participate but are welcome to use Poetry Out Loud as an activity.

2024 Registration Form

Past Winners

Contest Structure And Awards

Poetry Out Loud National Recitation Contest begins at the classroom level. Winners advance to school-wide contest, 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 print and online poetry anthologies, a teachers guide to help instructors teach recitation and performance, an audio CD featuring distinguished actors and writers, a video DVD of “best practices” examples of student recitations, 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 — but they will not be invited to participate in the Regional, State, and National Recitation Contests.

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