The National Endowment for the Arts and Poetry Foundation present Poetry Out Loud: National Recitation Contest, in partnership with the Virginia Comission for the Arts and SPARC. Poetry Out Loud is a program that encourages high school students to learn about great poetry through memorization, performance, and competition. From September 2007 to February 2008, schools are invited to participate in classroom and schoolwide contests, advancing to a state competition on March 6th, 2008. State champions will advance to the National Finals, to take place on April 28 - 29, 2008 in Washington, DC.

Alanna Rivera from Washington-Lee High School was selected as the 2007 Virginia Poetry Out Loud champion and represented the state in the 2007 National Finals in Washington, DC last May, where she won Third Place and a $5,000 scholarship.

Poetry Out Loud seeks to foster the next generation of literary readers by capitalizing on the latest trends in poetry - recitation and performance. The program builds on the resurgence of poetry as an oral art form, as seen in the slam poetry movement and the immense popularity of rap music among youth. Poetry Out Loud invites the dynamic aspects of slam poetry, spoken word, and theater into the English class. Through Poetry Out Loud, students can master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn about their literary heritage.

2007 Poetry Out Loud National Champion Amanda Fernandez with John Barr and Dana Gioia

High school teachers who are interested in participating in Poetry Out Loud should know that the programs requires less than two or three weeks of class time. High schools that wish to be part of the official Poetry Out Loud program must contact SPARC to participate. SPARC will determine which schools are eligible to take part in the official Poetry Out Loud program. Schools that are not in the official program may conduct their own contests using the online resources.

Contact Laine Satterfield at (804) 788-6460 or Lsatterfield@sparconline.org or visit www.poetryoutloud.org for more information.

Click HERE to obtain a 2007 Poetry Out Loud Registration form!

Students who participate in the official Poetry Out Loud program may be eligible to compete in the state and national finals in 2007. Each winner at the state level will receive $200.00 and an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, DC to compete for the national championship. The state winner's school will receive a $500.00 stipend for the purchase of poetry books. One runner-up in each state will receive $100.00, with $200.00 for his or her school library. Poetry Out Loud will award a total of $50,000.00 in scholarships and school stipends at the National Finals, with a $20,000.00 college scholarship for the Poetry Out Loud National Champion.

For further information on Poetry Out Loud, visit www.poetryoutloud.org.

2006 Virginia state champion Johnny Coyle of St. Christopher's School recites "Dover Beach" by Matthew Arnold.