The 2024 Washington State POL State Final Competition took place on Saturday, March 9th at Tacoma Little Theatre. 9 Regional champions moved on to the State finals, where they all recited 2 poems of their choosing. The 3 finalists do an additional poem. Leki Albright, a Liberty Bell High School student, placed in the top 3. She also received an honorable mention for her own poem “In Betweens.” in Poetry Ourselves, a submit-your-own poem contest available to all school winners for Poetry Out Loud.

Albright, far left, applauds the first place winner. Photo courtesy of ArtsWA

Washington State Final

Poetry Out Loud is a national poetry recitation competition for high school students.  Participating students develop public speaking skills. They build self-confidence and learn to connect with literature in new ways, often discovering a new outlet for creative expression.

Poetry Out Loud is supported by The National Endowment for the Arts and The Poetry Foundation.  ArtsWA coordinates and manages the program in Washington State.