Regional Competition

Seven students from school districts across the northern tier region participated in the 2021 virtual Regional Poetry Out Loud Competition. Student’s prerecorded 3 poem recitations and submitted them to be scored by a panel of judges. Judges included Lilace Guignard, Alan Miller, Judith Sornerberger, and Katie Wisnosky. Student’s recitations were judged on physical presence, voice & articulation, dramatic appropriateness, overall performance, and accuracy.

Oam Patel, a senior from Williamsport Area High school, won the regional competition for the second year in a row.  Oam won over the judges with his recitations of Harold & the Purple Crayon by D. Gilson, Charles Sumner by Charlotte L. Forten Grimke, and  Hysteria by Dionisio D. Martinez. Oam went on to participate in the virtual State Poetry Out Loud Competition.

The second place winner was  Micah Stouffer, a senior from Bloomsburg Christian School . Also participating in the 2020/21 competition were Gwendolyn Greene from CHEF Co-op of Lycoming County, Cale Blakely of Jersey Shore Area High School, Benjamin Fry of Sullivan County High School, Hannah Risch from Towanda Area Jr/Sr High School, and Cora Weldy from Troy Area Jr/Sr High School.

State Competition

Nationwide students compete in Regional Competitions for the opportunity to advance to the State Finals. One student from each of the 14 partner regions in Pennsylvania will advance to the Pennsylvania State Poetry Out Loud Competition. The winner at the state level will receive $200 and an all-expense trip to Washington, DC with a chaperone to compete in the National Finals. Each state winner’s school will receive a $500 stipend to purchase poetry materials. The State Competition will take place TBD at the State Museum in Harrisburg. The winner of the State Finals will advance to the National Competition.

National Competition

The National Finals will be held TBD in Washington D.C. A total of $50,000 in awards and school stipends will be given at the Poetry Out Loud National Finals, including a $20,000 award for the National Champion.