Poetry Out Loud
The Power of Poetry
The Voices of Our Youth Command Our Future
Poetry Out Loud inspires high school students to find their voice and the confidence to make themselves heard, using one of the most powerful tools at their disposal—art.
Poetry in education has experienced a Renaissance through Poetry Out Loud. Students are given the opportunity to interact with the words of the masters through recitation, building a relationship with the works and creating a sense of shared ownership branded by their own technique of volume, pitch, pace, and personal point of view. The Wyoming Arts Council proudly hosts a Poetry Out Loud state competition each year, growing steadily since its start in 2005.
About Poetry Out Loud
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.
High school students master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn about literary history and contemporary life.
Wyoming’s Poetry Out Loud is one of the most anticipated spoken word arts competition. The 2020 competition encompassed 16 counties, 20 teachers, and reaching more than 620 students statewide.
2020 Poetry Out Loud State Champions
Abbi Wingfield, Thunder Basin High School State Champion
Campbell County
Chelsea Elwood, Kaycee School Runner Up
Johnson County
Megan Abraham, Lovell High School Third Place
Big Horn County
How Poetry Out Loud Works
The structure of Poetry Out Loud is similar to a spelling bee. This annual program starts in the fall, with high school teachers using the free Poetry Out Loud teacher toolkit and related materials to teach poetry recitation and run classroom competitions.
Classroom winners advance to a school wide competition. School champions advance to the virtual Wyoming Poetry Out Loud finals, with a chance to compete in the 2022 virtual national competition.
The Wyoming State Champion receives:
- $200 cash prize
- $500 for their school to purchase literary materials.
- An opportunity to compete at the National Finals for college scholarship funds.
Visit poetryoutloud.org for detailed information and to check out POL action across the country.
2022
September 1, 2021 POL Anthology available for 2021-2022 school year
January 26, 2022 Deadline to register your school for State Competition
February 2022
Details and deadlines for submitting video performances to the Wyoming State Poetry Out Loud Competition will be sent the first week of February.
February 18, 2022 Deadline to host school competitions
February 25, 2022 by noon Deadline to submit school representative info for State Competition
March 7, 2022 Wyoming Virtual State Competition
March 17, 2022 Deadline for state champions & chaperones to register for National Finals
Spring 2022 Poetry Out Loud National Finals to take place virtually.
**VIRTUAL STATE COMPETITION (March 7, 2022)
The online state event would be held on Monday, March 7. The presentation of awards will also be held virtually. Time and additional details to follow.
How will the virtual competition work?
The Wyoming state competition will be a video submission competition. Details and deadlines for submitting video performances to the Wyoming State Poetry Out Loud Competition will be sent the first week of February.
Here are some resources to prepare for a virtual competition:
1. How To: Film a Poetry Out Loud Recitation for a Virtual Competition
2. Tips on Reciting
3. For recitations recorded for a virtual contest, please refer to the videos from the 2021 National Finals on the POL YouTube page.
Links for resources:
How to Film
All Wyoming public, private and, parochial high schools, and home school associations are eligible to participate in POL. (Participating students must be in grades 9-12 or in the age/grade equivalent.) Only a teacher or administrator can register a school to participate in Poetry Out Loud.
Registration for the 2021-2022 Poetry Out Loud competition is now open!
Registered schools will receive free multi-media toolkits which include: a teacher’s guide complete with lesson plans, guidance on classroom contests, evaluation criteria, posters, and customizable contest announcement poster. In addition, teachers will receive updates and support from the WY Poetry Out Loud Coordinator throughout the year.
The anthology and a digital copy of the curriculum guide, the official rules and eligibility, and tips for organizing a school competition can be found on the national Poetry Out Loud website.
For more information on Poetry Out Loud visit the POL website or contact the Wyoming Arts Council.
Read about Wyoming’s Poetry Out Loud winners
Wyoming’s 2020 Poetry Out Loud winner
Wyoming’s 2019 Poetry Out Loud winner
Wyoming’s 2018 Poetry Out Loud winner
Wyoming’s 2017 Poetry Out Loud winner
Wyoming’s 2016 Poetry Out Loud winner
Wyoming’s 2015 Poetry Out Loud winner
Wyoming’s 2014 Poetry Out Loud winner
Wyoming’s 2013 Poetry Out Loud winner
Wyoming’s 2012 Poetry Out Loud winner
Wyoming’s 2011 Poetry Out Loud winner
Wyoming’s 2010 Poetry Out Loud winner
Wyoming’s 2009 Poetry Out Loud winner
Wyoming’s 2008 Poetry Out Loud winner
Contact: Amara Fehring
