Regional Competition

12 school districts across the northern tier of Pennsylvania were registered to compete in the Regional Competition; however, due to inclement weather and a date change we 4 school districts were unable to participate. The Regional Competition saw 8 school districts participate in the competition from the following counties: Bradford, Sullivan, Tioga, Lycoming and Columbia. State Representative Tina Pickett honored us with her presence at the competition and assisted with handing out awards to the students. We were also fortunate to have Gayle Cluck, Pennsylvania Council on the Arts Poetry Out Loud Manager, join us. Judges remarked that this was one of the most difficult of recent competitions to judge due to the students excellent performances. Sorren Greene a senior at CHEF Homeschool Co-op took first runner up, and Maleah Stouffer of Bloomsburg Christian School was the Regional Competition champion.

Andre Okolowski, Sullivan County High School; Anna Maenza, North Rome Christian School; Emma Harris, North Penn-Liberty High School; Lilian Sitzer, Athens High School; Lucilia Renae Fink, Towanda Jr/Sr High School; Maleah Stouffer, Bloomsburg Christian School; Sorren Greene, CHEF Homeschool Co-op; Veronica Green, Montoursville Area High School; State Representative Tina Pickett

Maleah Stouffer, winner of the Regional Competition, is an 11th grade student from Bloomsburg Christian School will advance to the State Competition.
Photo Credit: Ed Boardman Photography

State Competition

This year in Pennsylvania 118 schools, 278 teachers and over 5600 students competed in Regional Competitions for the opportunity to advance to the State Finals. One student from each of the 14 partner regionals advance to the State 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 March 4^th at the State Museum in Harrisburg. The winner of the State Finals will advance to the National Competition.

National Competition

The 2019 National Finals will be held April 30^th-May 1^st 2019 at the Lisner Auditorium at the George Washington University. 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.