Poetry Out Loud - El Dorado County Finals this Week

Eight county high school finalists bring great, classic poetry

to life while competing to advance to the state finals.

When:  Thursday, February 7, 7-9pm (doors open at 6:30)

Where: Imagination Theater, 100 Placerville Drive,

     Placerville (inside the county fairgrounds)

Free, inspiring, and open to the public!

Poetry Out Loud event that is being sponsored by the Arts Council of El Dorado County. El Dorado County high school students are among thousands across the state interpreting, memorizing, and performing classical poetry. 

The National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation have partnered with U.S. state arts agencies to support Poetry Out Loud, a contest 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.

After successful pilot programs in Washington, DC, and Chicago, Poetry Out Loud was launched in high schools nationwide in the spring of 2006 with tens of thousands of students participating. POL has grown every year with over 365,000 students competing in 2011-2012. 

Contest Structure and Awards

Poetry Out Loud uses a pyramid structure that starts at the classroom level. Winners advance to a school-wide competition, then to a regional and/or state competition, and ultimately to the National Finals. 

Each winner at the state level receives $200 and an all-expenses-paid trip with an adult chaperone to Washington to compete for the national championship. The state winner's school receives a $500 stipend for the purchase of poetry books. The first runner-up in each state receives $100, with $200 for his or her school library. A total of $50,000 in awards and school stipends is awarded annually at the National Finals.