Indiana high schools sought for Poetry Out Loud

INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Arts Commission is encouraging high schools to participate in the annual Poetry Out Loud recitation contest sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation.

Initial competitions are held at the high school level to determine one student to represent the school in state competition. There are no registration costs for high schools interested in participating. The Arts Commission says preliminary school competitions should be completed by Feb. 1.

The state competition will be held in late February to determine the Indiana state champion. The winner will receive a $200 cash prize and an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C., to compete in the Poetry Out Loud National Finals.

The state champion’s school receives a $500 stipend to purchase poetry books.