Wyoming Arts Council

Poetry Out Loud State Competition to be held Feb. 26 at Laramie County Community College

Featured News, Program News | January 30, 2024

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The Wyoming Arts Council will host the Poetry Out Loud (POL) State Finals Competition on Mon., Feb 26, at 10 a.m. at the Surbrugg/Prentice Auditorium at Laramie County Community College (LCCC), 1400 East College Drive in Cheyenne. 

This year, fourteen schools are sending representatives from across Wyoming to compete in the 2024 Wyoming State POL Competition. Students first compete at the classroom and school levels before participating in the state finals competition. Each school champion will recite three poems. The winner will have the opportunity to go on to Washington, D.C. to compete in the national competition that happens later in the spring.

This year’s judges for the state competition are Wyoming poets Izac Garcia, Annelise Wright, Brandon McQuade, Wyoming Poet Laureate Barbara Smith, and Fine & Performing Arts Consultant for the Wyoming Department of Education, Lori Pusateri-Lane. 

The event will be emceed by writer, poet, and storyteller John Roedel. 

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Through an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts and administered statewide by the Wyoming Arts Council, Poetry Out Loud encourages high school students to learn about poetry through memorization, performance, and competition. Students master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn about literary history and contemporary life.

For more information on this program, visit https://wyoarts.state.wy.us/wac-program/poetry-out-loud/

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For more information, contact Amara Fehring, Community Development and Arts Education Specialist with the Wyoming Arts Council, at amara.fehring@wyo.gov.  

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