Four Students Advance to State Poetry Out Loud

After earning top scores at the school and regional levels, four Indian Springs students will advance to the Alabama Poetry Out Loud state competition.

Poetry Out Loud is a national program that encourages the study of great poetry by offering free educational materials and a dynamic competition for high school students across the country. This program helps students master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn about literary history and contemporary life.

Sponsored by the Alabama State Council on the Arts, Alabama’s chapter of Poetry Out Loud offers three categories of competition: recitation, original poetry, and social justice. The first rounds of competition are held at the classroom and school levels, with winners advancing to the regional and state levels. Students competing in the recitation contest may continue to nationals. 

Indian Springs’ school competition was held on November 19. The winners were:

National Poetry Out Loud Competition
First Place: Olivia Clifton ’22
Second Place: Lucy Gardner ’22
Third Place: Liam Falconer ’22

Original Poetry Out Loud Competition 
First Place: Mason Forman ’24
Second Place: Aviva Goldberg ’25
Third Place: Lucy Gardner ’22

Social Justice Poem Competition 
First Place: Lucy Gardner ’22
Second Place: Ellis Carter ’25
Third Place: Elizabeth Rowe ’26

The regional competition was held on December 2 in Tuscaloosa. Indian Springs’ winners were:

National Poetry Out Loud Competition
Second Place: Lucy Gardner ’22

Original Poetry Out Loud Competition
First Place: Mason Forman ’24
Also advancing: Aviva Goldberg ’25

Social Justice Poem Competition 
1st Place: Lucy Gardner ’22   
Also advancing: Ellis Carter ’25

Regional winners will advance to the state competition in February.

D’Anthony Allen coordinates Indian Springs’ Poetry Out Loud program.

Congratulations to all!