Poetry Out Loud Past Season

2021-2022 SEASON

Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who participated in last year’s Maine Poetry Out Loud program! We were so impressed by everyone’s ability to bring the written word alive and your comprehension of great poetry, as well as your hard work and resiliency during this unique year of virtual competition.

Our 2022 Maine Poetry Out Loud State Champion was Sofya Lantratova and our State Runner Up was Colette Carrillo! Sofya went on to the National Poetry Out Loud virtual semifinals competition in May of 2022. 

                              
Sofya Lantratova Colette Carrillo

Ten State Finalists from our Regional Competitions (the 5 top scorers from each competition) participated in our virtual State Finals. State Finals judges were Kate Fletcher, Mihku Paul, and Salim Salim. Our Accuracy Judge was Todd McKinley. Students submitted video files of their 3 recitations, which were scored remotely by the judges.

State Finalists (in order of recitation): 

  • Emma Bennett, Grade 11, Baxter Academy of Technology and Science
  • Emelia Bailey, Grade 11, Westbrook High School
  • Ogechi Obi, Grade 12, Bangor High School
  • Sofya Lantratova, Grade 12, George Stevens Academy
  • Chloe Schueman, Grade 10, Greely High School
  • Rose Tuttle, Grade 10, Mt. Ararat High School
  • Brett Palmer, Grade 12, Gardiner Area High School
  • Julia Ordway, Grade 12, Gorham High School 
  • Colette Carrillo, Grade 12, Waterville Senior High School
  • Sadie Luehman, Grade 10, Medomak Valley High School

You can watch our State Finals film, produced in partnership with Media Loma. Thank you to our virtual emcee, former Maine Poetry Out Loud State Champion, Allan Monga; to SPACE Gallery for letting us film in their Green Room; and to Maine's Poet Laureate, Julia Bouwsma, for sharing a recitation.

There were two virtual Regional Competitions - a Northern and Southern competition. Our Regionals judges were Maya Stein, Julia Bouwsma, and Kristen Lindquist. Our Accuracy Judge was Todd McKinley. Students submitted video files of their 3 recitations, which were scored remotely by the judges.

Southern Regional Competition (in order of recitation):

  • Rose Tuttle, Grade 10, Mt. Ararat High School
  • Chloe Schueman, Grade 10, Greely High School
  • Marissa Morgans, Grade 12, Oak Hill High School
  • Finley Fairfield, Grade 12, Kennebunk High School
  • Emma Bennett, Grade 11, Baxter Academy of Technology and Science
  • Emelia Bailey, Grade 11, Westbrook High School
  • Zoe Brush, Grade 11, Morse High School
  • Julia Ordway, Grade 12, Gorham High School

Northern Regional Competition:

  • Sadie Luehman, Grade 10, Medomak Valley High School
  • Abigail Case, Grade 10, Hermon High School
  • Brett Palmer, Grade 12, Gardiner Area High School
  • Sofya Lantratova, Grade 12, George Stevens Academy
  • Destiney Graham, Grade 11, Lewiston High School
  • Colette Carrillo, Grade 12, Waterville Senior High School
  • Ogechi Obi, Grade 12, Bangor High School
  • Abby Cunningham, Grade 12, Lisbon High School