2023-24 POETRY OUT LOUD WINNERS ANNOUNCED IN TUSCALOOSA

(TUSCALOOSA, Ala.) The regional finals for Poetry Out Loud, a national recitation competition, took place on Feb. 8, 2024 at the Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center. Prior to this final round in Tuscaloosa, the West-Central Alabama students participated in a primary competition at their respective high schools.

Poetry Out Loud is a national competition that encourages the nation’s youth to learn about great poetry through memorization and recitation. This program helps students master public speaking skills, build self-confidence and learn about their literary heritage. Since 2005, Poetry Out Loud has grown to reach more than 4.1 million students and 68,000 teachers from 17,000 schools and organizations in every state, American Samoa, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Students competing in the Regions 3 and 4 POL program were eligible to compete in the national anthology portion of the program, the original poetry portion, or social issue recitation. Traveling to Montgomery, Ala. this year, the winners will compete in the state-wide competition against winners in other Alabama regions.

The Alabama State Council on the Arts sponsored the competition and The Arts Council of Tuscaloosa administrates Poetry Out Loud on the local level. Additional sponsors include the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation.

Judges for the Competition were Dr. Kerry Brackett, Joi Miner, and Alina Stefanescu. Accuracy judge was Martie Sample and prompter was Dr. Kevin Ledgewood. The State Competition will take place on March 6, 2024 at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival in Montgomery.

National Anthology Competition

1st Place: Egg McClure, Alabama School of Fine Arts

2nd Place: Zariah Smith, Paul W. Bryant High School

3rd Place: Dana Cheek: Vestavia Hills High School

Also advancing: Sidney Grace Culwell: Vestavia Hills High School

Also advancing: Aysha Thomas: Paul W. Bryant High School

Original Poetry Competition

1st Place: Egg McClure, Alabama School of Fine Arts

2nd Place: Abigail White, Indian Springs School

3rd Place: Erin Sides, Indian Springs School

Also advancing: Dana Cheek, Vestavia Hills High School

Also advancing: James Harden, Vestavia Hills High School

Social Issue Poetry Competition

1st Place: Aarvi Shah, Indian Springs School

2nd Place: Egg McClure, Alabama School of Fine Arts

3rd Place: James Harden, Vestavia Hills High School

Also advancing to state competition: Ellis Carter, Indian Springs School and Jaid Sconiers, Alabama School of Fine Arts

The Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center is located at 620 Greensboro Avenue in downtown Tuscaloosa. For more information about The Arts Council, Bama Theatre or CAC, patrons should like the Facebook page “The Arts Council – Bama Theatre – Cultural Arts Center” on Facebook and Instagram @tuscaloosaartscouncil. Call 205-758-5195 or visit tuscarts.org for further information.

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