Poetry Out Loud seeks participants for 2015-2016 contest

Poetry Out Loud: National Recitation Contest seeks high school participants for the 2015-16 contest. The deadline to register is Oct. 16, 2015.

The Poetry Out Loud program is designed to encourage students to learn about poetry through memorization, performance and competition, which gives them an opportunity to practice public speaking skills, build self-confidence and learn about their literary heritage.

During this fall and winter, Alaskan schools are invited to participate in classroom and school-wide contests, with 10 regional finalists advancing to an Alaska state competition in Juneau on March 15, 2016. State champions will advance to the National Finals on May 2-4 in Washington, D.C.

Each state champion will receive $200 and a paid trip to Washington, D.C. to compete for the national championship. The state champion’s school will receive a $500 stipend for the purchase of poetry books. The first runner‐up in each state will receive $100 with $200 for his or her school library. Poetry Out Loud will award a total of $50,000 in cash and school stipends at the national finals, including a $20,000 award for the Poetry Out Loud national champion.

To register go to jahc.org/poetry-out-loud. For additional information, poems and teaching resources for Poetry Out Loud, visit poetryoutloud.org.

This contest is presented by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation in partnership with the Alaska State Council on the Arts and Juneau Arts & Humanities Council.

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