Poetry Out Loud is a nationwide poetry competition for high school students initiated and supported by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation. South Dakota Arts Council, South Dakotans for the Arts and South Dakota Public Broadcasting are statewide sponsors of the event.

During 2008, more than $100,000 will be awarded in scholarships to students and grants to schools at state and national levels. These awards include a $20,000 scholarship to the national champion as well as other substantial prizes to finalists in the national competition.

This year Students from Sioux Falls, Vermillion, Tyndall, Centerville, Lead, and Kyle took top honors at the South Dakota Poetry Out Loud Finals, March 17, at Edison Middle School in Sioux Falls. Receiving first and second place, respectively, were: Elsa Vande Vegte representing Sioux Falls Lincoln High School, and April Sun, a student at Vermillion High School.
 

“This competition is a wonderful way to introduce the arts to high school students across the state,” said Richard Benda, secretary, Department of Tourism and State Development. “One of the goals of the state’s 2010 Initiative is to enhance arts and history as essential to lifelong learning and I think this competition does just that.”

As the first place winner, Vande Vegte will receive a $200 cash prize
and an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, DC, to compete in the National Finals April 29, 2008. Her school, Lincoln High, will receive a $500 stipend for the purchase of poetry books. Runner-up Sun will receive $100; Vermillion High School will be given $200 for its school library.

Ten students qualified for the state event by participating in a preliminary competition. During the state contest, each of these students recited 2 poems.

The six students with the highest scores advanced to a third round. Cumulative points from all three rounds determined final placements.

Other students winning honorable mention awards at the statewide competition were Devon Cadwell from Bon Homme High School; Miranda Glover from Lead-Deadwood High School; Caleb Olson of Centerville; and Megan Yellow Boy of Little Wound School in Kyle. Rounding out the list of finalists were Matthew Allison from Riggs High School in Pierre; Casey Alsaker from Rosholt; Janelle Bakke of Watertown; and Justine Scarbrough from Brookings.  

A distinguished panel of SD poets and a theater professional were judges for the event:
David Allan Evans, South Dakota Poet Laureate; Ray Peterson, SDSU Theatre Department; and Allison Hedge Coke, award-winning poet and University of Nebraska faculty member.

A contest was held for the first time in 2008 for students writing original poetry.
The three state winners were: Dale Frewaldt – Madison HS,
Jacob Plette – Vermillion HS, and Janelle Bakke – Watertown HS.
They are pictured with state poet laureate David Allan Evans.
 

Contact the state coordinator Rosella Blunk (rosieblunk@yahoo.com) if you would like to participate or learn more about this contest.

SD Poetry Out Loud Archives
2006 Poetry Out Loud

2007 Poetry Out Loud

Links
Poetry Out Loud Site

National Endowment for the Arts