Poetry Out Loud Winners Advance to Regionals

After earning top scores at the school competition on January 25, eight Indian Springs students will advance to the Alabama Poetry Out Loud regional 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. 

School winners in each category were:

National Poetry Out Loud Competition

First Place: William Kong ’23

Second Place: Rezi Ubogu ’23

Third Place: Maria Walker ’23

Original Poetry Out Loud Competition 

First Place: Sarah Khamis ’25

Second Place: Abigail White ’27

Third Place: Rezi Ubogu ’23

Social Justice Poem Competition 

First Place: Anne Maison Barbaree Tasker ’23

Second Place: Ellis Carter ’25

Third Place: Aarvi Shah ’26

The regional competition will take place on February 2 at the Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center in Tuscaloosa. Regional winners will advance to the state competition in March.

Thanks to English department faculty member and Student Life Coordinator D’Anthony Allen, who organizes Indian Springs’ Poetry Out Loud program.

Congratulations to all!