POETRY OUT LOUD!

Sioux Falls Washington senior takes 2nd in nation at Poetry Out Loud Finals

Huge congratulations to Damien Deen of Washington High School as well as his teacher and Poetry Out Loud coach Michelle McIntyre and South Dakota Arts Council POL Coordinator Ann Volin who recently celebrated Damien's amazing 2nd-place finish at the April 27-29 Poetry Out Loud National Finals in Washington, D.C.!

Damien earned $10,000 for the runner-up finish after competing against champions from 55 other state and U.S. territories, making it past semifinal competition to compete against the top 9 finalists April 29. What a beautiful job, Damien, and way to represent South Dakota – congratulations!

Damien Deen (right), a Washington High School senior, was crowned Poetry Out Loud State Champion for poetry recitation in March and competed in the Poetry Out Loud National Finals, April 27-29, in Washington, D.C., where he won $10,000 for finishing 2nd in the nation; the runner-up in the recitation was Edom Hiruy (middle), a senior at Sioux Falls Jefferson ; in the original poetry category, Learys Mercado-Castello (left), a senior at Sioux Falls Jefferson won both first and second place (photo courtesy of SDAC).”

Three young people stand on a stage in front of a projected screen that reads “Freedom 250” with a stylized American flag and poetry event signage.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

STREAM POETRY OUT LOUD FINALS

On April 28, the state champions will competed throughout the day in three semifinal rounds organized by region. Sioux Falls Washington’s Damien Deen advanced to the top nine to compete in the Poetry Out Loud National Finals April 29, and ultimately placed 2nd in the nation, earning $10,000 for his impressive runner-up finish!

 Both days of competition were available through a live webcast at Arts.gov/Poetry-Out-Loud, where additional videos and information about the 2026 National POL Finals and competitors can  be found. More information about the program is available at PoetryOutLoud.org.

WHAT IS POETRY OUT LOUD? 
Poetry Out Loud is a FREE program for South Dakota high schoolers (grades 9-12), in public, private, or home school, that encourages students to learn about poetry through memorization and recitation. This program provides avenues for students to master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, learn about their literary heritage, and compete for more than $50,000 in prizes.

IMPORTANT DATES IN 2025-2026
November 1, 2025 – No changes to anthology of poems eligible for competition after this date
November-December, 2025 – Schools/teachers/students encouraged to complete online form to receive important program updates for 2025-2026 program/school year
January 29, 2026 – Deadline for schools/students to register
February 9, 2026 - Preliminary Round video submission due
February 23, 2026 - State qualifiers notified
March 9, 2026 - State Finals competition in Sioux Falls ($150 stipend + travel reimbursement for teachers)
April 27-29, 2026 - National Finals in Washington, D.C. (All-expenses paid for state champion and chaperone) including the following activities:

  • Monday, April 27, 2026: Welcome Activities
  • Tuesday, April 28, 2026: Semifinals
  • Wednesday: April 29, 2026: National Finals

RESOURCES : Teachers Guide to Poetry Out Loud:  
https://poetryoutloud.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/FINAL_ACCESSIBLE_POL_2025-26-TG.pdf
Find resources for teachers, competitors and judges and explore the online anthology of poems eligible for competition at: https://www.poetryoutloud.org/ 

NCTE & COMMON CORE STANDARDS: 
As teachers, you have more to do than prepare lesson plans and teach. At Poetry Out Loud, we've developed FREE lesson plans and classroom resources to help complement your busy schedule. This program also satisfies more than half of the NCTE English Language Arts Standards along with many of the Common Core State Standards in Reading and Language. 
Read more about how POL satisfies these standards here: https://poetryoutloud.org/teachers-and-organizers/ncte-and-common-core-standards/  
The schedule and curriculum for Poetry Out Loud can be completed in 2 - 3 weeks, depending on each teacher’s schedule. It DOES NOT require full class periods, so instructors can take it at their own pace. We also have virtual POL lessons that students can access on their own. Check out our Youtube playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLT4a42VZ5YbUsIHN8y-6X5ioaoLrew7Z0 

PRIZES: 
State Champion: The state winner will receive $200, and their school/organization will receive $500 for poetry materials; the state champion also receives an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C., with a chaperone to compete in the Poetry Out Loud National Finals for a chance to win $20,000!
Runner-Up:  The state runner-up will receive $100, and their school/organization will receive $200 for the purchase of poetry materials.
Original Poetry:  The state winner of the original poetry competition will receive $100, and their school will receive $100 for the purchase of poetry materials. The runner-up will receive $50, and their school will receive $50 for the purchase of poetry materials.


“Blue vertical logo with white text reading ‘National Endowment for the Arts’ and ‘Poetry Out Loud’ with a microphone icon. Below is a stylized U.S. flag featuring a circle of stars with ‘250,’ and the words ‘Freedom 250’ at the bottom.”