February 3, 2025 -Students from Eisenhower High School will compete in the Poetry Out Loud Central Illinois Regional Contest on Thursday, February 13th in Springfield.
Poetry Out Loud is a national arts education program that encourages the study of poetry by offering free educational materials and a recitation competition for high school students across the country. This program helps students master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn about literary history and contemporary life. It is a partnership of the National Endowment for the Arts, Poetry Foundation, and state and jurisdictional arts agencies.
The Springfield Area Arts Council will host the Poetry Out Loud Central Illinois Regional Contest at 4:00 P.M. in Peggy Ryder Theatre at the Hoogland Center for the Arts. There is no admission cost, and it is open to the public.
Since 2005, Poetry Out Loud has grown to reach more than 4.4 million students and 81,000 teachers from 20,000 schools and organizations in every state. This year, the program celebrates its twentieth anniversary.
In Poetry Out Loud, teenagers select, analyze, and commit to memory classic and contemporary poems for recitation. Beginning at the classroom level, winners advance to a school-wide competition, then to one of seven regional competitions in Illinois, then to the state tournament (also held in Springfield, March 17, 10:00 A.M.), and ultimately to the national finals in Washington, D.C.
This year, seven area high schools, 23 teachers, and 943 students are participating.
PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS
Decatur: Eisenhower High School
Edwardsville: Edwardsville Community High School
Jacksonville: Routt High School
Pawnee: Pawnee High School
Springfield: Lutheran High School; Sacred Heart-Griffin High School; Southeast High School
