Bela Moore, a freshman at the Methow Valley School District’s Independent Learning Center, and Malina Wiegel from Okanogan HIgh School, emerged from Poetry Out Loud’s Feb. 3 Eastern Regional competition as the two reciters who will advance to the state finals on March 12, which will similarly be held in a “live-remote” format.

Both finalists were supported by Methow Arts which hired teaching artist Thome George to work with students from Okanogan High School, Liberty Bell High School and the Independent Learning Center.

Poetry Out Loud: National Recitation Contest. The competition, presented in partnership with the Washington State Arts Commission, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Poetry Foundation, and Methow Arts, is part of a national program that encourages high school students to learn about poetry through memorization, performance, and competition. 

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The Washington State champion will advance to the Poetry Out Loud National Finals in Washington, DC, where $50,000 in awards and school stipends will be distributed.

DATE: March 12, 2022. LOCATION: Zoom. More information with link will be provided soon.