Poetry Out Loud
Wyoming’s Poetry Out Loud and Poetry Ourselves programs engage high school students statewide through poetry and performance.
Photo by James Kegley
Empowering Students Through Poetry
Poetry Out Loud
Poetry Out Loud® lifts poetry off the page, creating community and connection through performance. Since the program began in 2005, more than 4.5 million high school students nationwide have participated in this dynamic poetry recitation competition. Poetry Out Loud helps students strengthen public speaking skills, build confidence, and deepen their appreciation for poetry.
Created by the National Endowment for the Arts and administered in Wyoming by the Wyoming Arts Council, the program combines the power of performance with the timeless beauty of poetry. Since 2005, Wyoming has hosted Poetry Out Loud, connecting students across the state with poetry, performance, and one another.
Poetry Ourselves
Poetry Ourselves is a Wyoming-specific literary program launched in 2023 that recognizes and celebrates poetry by students in grades 9–12 attending public, private, or home schools across the state. The program gives young writers an opportunity to share original poetry through the written word, encouraging creative expression, confidence, and engagement with language arts. Poetry Ourselves winners are recognized alongside Poetry Out Loud winners at an annual awards ceremony. The event brings students, educators, and community members together to celebrate student voices and poetry in Wyoming.
Why It Matters
Poetry Out Loud empowers young people to express themselves, build confidence, and gain a deeper appreciation for literature. The program supports creative youth development, strengthens language skills, and encourages thoughtful self-reflection. Through local, state, and national competitions, students grow as performers, critical thinkers, and communicators.
Visit poetryoutloud.org to learn more
How It Works
POL follows a tiered competition format, beginning in high schools and culminating in a national championship in Washington, D.C.
- Fall: Teachers register and receive a free POL teacher toolkit to help guide in-class competitions.
- Winter: Classroom and school champions advance to the state competition held in Cheyenne.
- Spring: The Wyoming State Champion competes at the national finals in Washington, D.C.
Prizes
- State Champion: $200 and $500 for their school to purchase literary materials
- National Finalists: Eligible for college scholarships
- All Participants: Gain valuable experience in performance, poise, and poetry
Program Timeline (2026–2027)
- Sept. 1, 2026 – Anthology and school registration opens
- Dec. 31, 2026 – Deadline to for schools to register
- Jan. 31, 2027 – Deadline to fill out Intent to Attend State Competition
- Feb. 14, 2027 – Deadline for school competitions and Poetry Ourselves submissions
- Feb. 22, 2027 – Deadline to submit local winner information to participate in the state competition
- Mar. 1, 2027 – State Finals (Casper)
- Apr. 26–28, 2027 – National Finals (Washington, D.C.)
Register to Participate in Wyoming’s 2027 Poetry Out Loud competition using the button below
Teacher & Organizer Resources
Registered schools receive a free multimedia toolkit including:
- Teacher and organizer guide
- Student evaluation criteria and judging rubrics
- Access to POL Anthology and video guides
To request a toolkit or get support from the Wyoming POL Coordinator, please contact Ismael using the form at the bottom of this page.
Poetry Out Loud State Finals
2027 Poetry Out Loud State Finals Competition: Monday, March 1, at 10 a.m. at The Rialto (1000 E 2nd St., Casper)
2027 Poetry Out Loud National Competition
Wyoming’s Poetry Out Loud State Champion advances to the 2027 National Finals, held April 26–28 in Washington, D.C., where students from across the country compete for the national title and a $20,000 grand prize.
Watch the National Semifinals on April 27 (7 a.m.–6 p.m. MST) and the National Finals on April 28 at 5 p.m. MST at Arts.gov/Poetry-Out-Loud.
2026 Wyoming State Winners
WYOMING’S 2026 POETRY OUT LOUD WINNER, DOVELYNN MARTINSON
Dovelynn Martinson, a senior at Buffalo High School, was named the 2026 Wyoming Poetry Out Loud State Champion at the state finals held March 2, 2026, at The Lincoln in Cheyenne.
Runner-up: Daniela Garcia Madrid (Worland High School)
Third Place: Nyah Herrera (Cheyenne East High School)
2026 Poetry Ourselves Winners
The fourth annual Poetry Ourselves Competition took place on Sunday, March 1, 2026, at the Laramie County Library in Cheyenne. Poetry Ourselves provides a platform for students to write and recite original poetry.
2026 Written Word Winners
- 1st Place:The Park Bench: Keeper of Stories by Aubrey Lemon (Buffalo High School)
- 2nd Place:There is a Forest by Nyah Herrera (Cheyenne East High School)
- 3rd Place:Foampools by Zoey Mellor (Cheyenne East High School)
2026 Spoken Word Winners
- 1st Place (Tie):The End of a Mourning by Josalyn Anderson (Moorcroft Secondary School) and The Definition of Time by Kaylee Ann Caturia (Buffalo High School)
- 2nd Place:The Flower of Society by Daylynn Schutt (Moorcroft High School)
Previous Wyoming Poetry Ourselves Winners
2026: Written Word: The Park Bench: Keeper of Stories by Aubrey Lemon (Buffalo High School); Spoken Word: The End of a Mourning by Josalyn Anderson (Moorcroft Secondary School) and The Definition of Time by Kaylee Ann Caturia (Buffalo High School)
2025: Written Word: Petrichor by Briar Markovsky, Buffalo High School; Spoken Word: Only Then Will I Feel the Breath Before I Drown by Avenlee Downey (Moorcroft Secondary)
2024: Written Word: Briar Markovsky, Buffalo High School; Spoken Word Justice Nelson (Worland High School)
2023: Elora Umbach, Penn Foster High School
Previous Wyoming Poetry Out Loud Winners
2026: Dovelynn Martinson, Senior, Buffalo High School, Johnson County
2025: Alex Brady, Junior, Cheyenne East High School, Cheyenne, Laramie County
2024: Elora Nation, Senior, Penn Foster High School, Natrona County (2-time winner)
2023: Elora Umbach, Junior, Penn Foster High School, Natrona County
2022: Bailee Vargas, Senior, Fremont County Homeschool Group, Fremont County
2021: Raylene Jones, Junior at Natrona County High School, Casper, Natrona County
2020: Abbi Wingfield, Senior, Thunder Basin High School, Gillette, Campbell County
2019: Lauren Haiar, Senior, Sundance Secondary School, Sundance, Crook County (3-time winner)
2018: Lauren Haiar, Junior, Sundance Secondary School, Sundance, Crook County (2-time winner)
2017: Lauren Haiar, Sophomore, Sundance Secondary School, Sundance, Crook County
2016: Lucy Martinez, Senior, Summit High School, Jackson, Teton County
2015: Dylan Collins, Senior, Arvada-Clearmont High School, Clearmont, Sheridan County
2014: Sara Ellingrod, Senior, Arvada-Clearmont High School, Clearmont, Sheridan County (4-time winner)
2013: Sara Ellingrod, Junior, Arvada-Clearmont High School, Clearmont, Sheridan County (3-time winner)
2012: Sara Ellingrod, Sophomore, Arvada-Clearmont High School, Clearmont, Sheridan County (2-time winner)
2011: Sara Ellingrod, Freshman, Arvada-Clearmont High School, Clearmont, Sheridan County
2010: Judah Lovato, Senior, Arvada-Clearmont High School, Clearmont, Sheridan County
2009: Danielle Then, Senior, Guernsey-Sunrise High School, Guernsey, Platte County
2008: Caila Booth, Senior, Buffalo High School, Johnson County
2007: Joshua Schaberg, Buffalo High School, Johnson County
2006: Kamaria Stephens, Cheyenne East High School, Laramie County
