2016 Poetry Out Loud Finals

State Finals

From a competitive field of nineteen Delaware high schools students, Hannah Sturgis a junior from Polytech High School earned the title of 2016 Poetry Out Loud Delaware State Champion at the state finals held in Smyrna, Delaware on February 23. Sturgis’ recitations of “El Olvido,” “Blackberrying,” and “Infelix” earned her high marks with the judges. The first runner-up was Brandon Dawson from Middletown High School, and the second runner-up Jordan McMillan from Sanford School.

For her winning presentation, Hannah Sturgis will receive $200 and an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, DC, with a chaperone to compete at the national championship on May 2-4, 2016. POLYTECH High School will receive a $500 stipend for the purchase of poetry books. Brandon Dawson, the first runner-up will receive $100, and Middletown High School will receive $200 towards the purchase of poetry books.

Walmart provided $25 gift cards for all eighteen student finalists. At the National Finals, The Poetry Foundation will be awarding up to $50,000 in scholarships and school stipends, with a $20,000 college scholarship awarded to the Poetry Out Loud National Champion.

The Poetry Out Loud state competition, sponsored by the Delaware Division of the Arts in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation, is part of a national program that encourages high school students to learn about great poetry through memorization, performance, and competition.

Additional coverage and photos are available on the News Journal website.