The Arizona Poetry Out Loud Central Regional Competition was held on Saturday, February 13, 2016, at the ASU Memorial Union in Tempe, AZ.

The finalists (in no particular order) are:

  • Edel Healy, Xavier College Preparatory (Phoenix)
  • Anisa Myers, American Leadership Academy (Queen Creek)
  • Karina Morris, AAEC PV High School (Phoenix)
  • Hunter Hazelton, Betty Fairfax High School (Laveen)

The student finalists, as well as those from the two other regional competitions, will advance to compete at the state finals. This year’s state finals will be held on Friday, March 11, at the downtown Phoenix studios of KAET, 8 Arizona PBS, who will later broadcast the event.

Poetry Out Loud is a nationwide program that seeks to foster the next generation of literary readers by capitalizing on the latest trends in poetry – recitation and performance. The program builds on the resurgence of poetry as an oral art form, as seen in the slam poetry movement and the immense popularity of rap music among youth. Poetry Out Loud invites the dynamic aspects of slam poetry, spoken word, and theater into the English class. Through Poetry Out Loud, students can master public speaking skills, build self-confidence and learn about their literary heritage.

Poetry Out Loud uses a pyramid structure that begins at the classroom level. Winners advance to a school-wide competition, then to a regional and/or state competition, and ultimately to the National Finals in Washington, DC.

The Arizona Commission on the Arts partners with the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation, as well as regional and local organizations, to administer the Poetry Out Loud program in Arizona.

For more information, visit Arizona Poetry Out Loud or National Poetry Out Loud.

The Northern Regional Competition will be held on Saturday, February 20, 2016, at 2:00pm, at Lowell Observatory, 1400 W Mars Hill Rd, Flagstaff, AZ 86001. This event is free an open to the public.

The Southern Regional Competition will be held on Saturday, February 27, 2016, at 1:00pm, at University of Arizona Poetry Center, 1508 E Helen St, Tucson, AZ 85719. This event is free an open to the public.

Photo: 2014 Arizona Poetry Out Loud state champion Matthew Kaplan. Photo by Jeff Smith, courtesy of University of Arizona Poetry Center.


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