Poetry Out Loud 2023.5

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Poetry Out Loud is a national competition in which various students compete in poetry memorization and recitation. The program starts at the classroom and moves onto the regional level in partnership with an area organization — in our case, Ohio Arts Council. Qualifying students have the chance to compete at a state level, and even a national level (held at Washington D.C.), where the winner takes home a $20,000 cash prize.

Students in grades 9 - 12 across a 12 county region compete in their local school competition and then come to Piqua for the West Central Ohio Regional Competition. In the past, Chaminade Julienne Catholic High School, Piqua High School, Lehman Catholic High School, Xenia High School, Sidney Christian School and more have participated.

The Poetry Out Loud West Central Ohio Regional Finals was held at Edison State Community College in Piqua, Ohio.