The Indiana Arts Commission (IAC) announced Monday that students representing eight high schools from around the state will compete virtually at 5:30 p.m. this evening in the Poetry Out Loud Indiana State Finals.
Locally, Piper Murphy of Carmel will be among the participants.
Since 2005, the National Endowment for the Arts, Poetry Foundation, and Indiana Arts Commission have worked with Indiana schools, teachers, and organizations to bring students a unique way to learn and love poetry. Through Poetry Out Loud, students read, memorize, and recite classic and contemporary poems.
The eight students taking part in the 2021 Poetry Out Loud State Finals include:
- Piper Murphy, Indiana Writers Center, Carmel
- June Hill, Homestead High School, Fort Wayne
- Lucia Walker, Bloomington High School South, Bloomington
- Qamar Saitovski, Indiana Digital Learning School, Indianapolis
- Kenlie Thomas, Creative Arts Council of Wells County, Bluffton
- Amy Wahl, Forest Park Jr.-Sr. High School, Ferdinand
- Eleanor Holohan, Pike High School, Indianapolis
- Mya Suber, Herron High School, Indianapolis
The virtual finals will be hosted by Devon Ginn, Visual Art & Entertainment Curator at the Madam Walker Legacy Center in Indianapolis.
The state champion receives a $200 cash prize and the champion’s school receives a $500 stipend to purchase poetry books. Each participant will receive an original Poetry Out Loud screen print by illustrator Byron Elliott and a signed book of poetry from Indiana’s Poet Laureate Matthew Graham.
Poetry Out Loud is a national partnership between the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the Poetry Foundation.
Click here to register for the 2021 Indiana Poetry Out Loud State Finals direct stream link.