POETRY OUT LOUD!

Sioux Falls Washington Student to compete in Poetry National Finals April 28-29

PIERRE, S.D. – Damien Deen, a senior at Washington High School in Sioux Falls, will take the big stage at the Poetry Out Loud National Finals, April 28-29, in Washington, D.C. 

Deen won first place at South Dakota’s Poetry Out Loud (POL) state contest on March 9, which earned him a $200 cash prize, $500 for his school to purchase poetry education material, and the opportunity to compete among 55 state/jurisdictional champions from across the nation for a top prize of $20,000.

Read full press releaseThree 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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Damien Deen (right), a Washington High School senior, was crowned Poetry Out Loud State Champion for poetry recitation in March and will compete in the Poetry Out Loud National Finals, April 27-29, in Washington, D.C., for a chance to win $20,000; 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).

STREAM POETRY OUT FINALS

On April 28, the state champions will compete throughout the day in three semifinal rounds organized by region. Deen will compete in Semifinal 3 beginning at 5 p.m. EDT. Three competitors from each region will advance to the top nine, who will compete in the Poetry Out Loud National Finals April 29, beginning at 7 p.m. EDT, culminating in the crowning of a national champion. 

These events are free and open to the public; no tickets or reservations are required. Both days of competition will also be available through a live, one-time-only webcast at Arts.gov/Poetry-Out-Loud. 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.”