Maine’s Poetry Out Loud Regional Finals Set to Celebrate 20 Years of Student Poetry Recitation

The Maine Arts Commission is thrilled to announce the upcoming Poetry Out Loud Regional Finals, a celebration of the power of poetry and performance. As we mark the 20th Anniversary of the Poetry Out Loud program, we are incredibly proud to have facilitated this inspiring event alongside countless student poetry reciters, educators, judges, and poetry enthusiasts over the years.

Poetry Out Loud—presented in partnership with the Maine Arts Commission, Maine Humanities Council, National Endowment for the Arts, and the Poetry Foundation—encourages students to explore great poetry through memorization and performance, enhancing their public speaking skills, confidence, and appreciation for literature.

This year’s Maine Regional Finals will take place at three venues across the state:

📍 Southern Regional Finals – February 4 @ 5 PM | The Public Theatre, Lewiston
📍 Central Regional Finals – February 11 @ 5 PM | Bangor Public Library, Bangor
📍 Northern Regional Finals – February 22 @ 10 AM | Mark & Emily Turner Memorial Library, Presque Isle

The following students will advance to their respective regional competitions, showcasing their mastery of poetry recitation and performance:

Southern Regional Contestants:

• Aiyana Warren, Lewiston High School
• Willow Knowles, Kennebunk High School
• Zofia Kuzma, Baxter Academy for Tech and Science
• Kyle Doody, Gardiner Area High School
• Zuriel Smith, Boothbay Region High School
• Garrett Jones, South Portland High School
• Abigail McCrillis, Gorham High School
• Parker Smith, Rangeley Lakes Regional High School
• Kairi Burr, Westbrook High School
• Kate Morrison, Portland High School
• Isaac Wright, Mt. Ararat High School
• Pendo Dawe, Maine Coast Waldorf School
• Rose Lahane-Tureen, Cheverus High School
• Paige Desmarais, Maine Arts Academy
• Aspen Gauthier, Oak Hill High School
• Charles Crewe-Viger, Greely High School
• Lyra Ricciardone, Morse High School

Central Regional Contestants:

• Aaron Soosman, Carrabec High School
• Riviera Hernandez, Waterville Senior High School
• Emily Whitney, Bangor High School
• Lilah Chibuye, Brewer High School
• Lyra Carter, Blue Hill Harbor School
• Stella Martinelli, Erskine Academy
• Lily Raleigh, Hermon High School

Northern Regional Contestant:

• Opal Walker, County Community Players

The top finalists from each regional event will advance to the Maine State Final on March 3 at the Waterville Opera House, where they will compete for the opportunity to represent Maine at the National Poetry Out Loud Finals in Washington, D.C. There, they will join students from across the country to compete for $50,000 in scholarships and school prizes.

"As we celebrate 20 years of Poetry Out Loud, we reflect on the many talented students who have stood on this stage, bringing poetry to life with their voices," said Brita Wanger, Program Coordinator at the Maine Arts Commission. "This program not only fosters a love of literature but also cultivates confidence, creativity, and community among students statewide."

Since its inception in 2005, Poetry Out Loud has engaged more than 4.4 million students across the U.S., with thousands of Maine students participating each year. The program offers a free, standards-based curriculum that includes an extensive online poetry anthology, lesson plans, and video resources, making it an invaluable educational tool for schools and teachers.

All Maine Poetry Out Loud events are free and open to the public, welcoming poetry lovers, educators, families, and community members to celebrate the next generation of young poets.

For more information about Maine Poetry Out Loud, visit PoetryOutLoud.orgor visit the Maine Arts Commission’s website.

About the Maine Arts Commission

The Maine Arts Commission fosters and encourages public interest and participation in the cultural heritage and artistic expression in our state. We pursue our mission through partnerships and collaborations, initiatives, advocacy, and grants for organizations, individual artists, communities, and schools throughout Maine.