AK:

State Finalists announced:
The Juneau Arts & Humanities Council and Alaska Arts Education Consortium announce eight students who will compete at the Juneau Arts & Culture Center, Feb. 23. (Juneau Empire)

State finals set for Feb. 23:
Be there! 5 p.m. at the Juneau Arts & Culture Center. (Capital City Weekly)

Kira Wilkinson goes to state finals, Feb. 23:
The Kwigillingok student will join Jessica Wilder, Anchorage; Susan Way, Fairbanks; Sami Martinez, Juneau; April Hostetter, Igiugig; Berett Wilber, Sitka; Kristen Luchsinger, Wasilla; and Elizabeth Porter, Delta Junction; at the event in Juneau. (The Bristol Bay Times)

AZ:

Emiley Walter takes crown at Tri-City College Preparatory H.S.:
Next for the senior: Arizona State Championship competition in March. (The Daily Courier)

"Nerve-wracking." (but she'd do it again):
Maricopa High School junior Angie Martinez's nerves held up all the way to the state finals. (Maricopa Monitor)

CA:

Morgan Brown wins California crown:
The Pacific Grove High School junior moves on to nationals. (The Herald)

Ventura County competition captured:
A photo gallery celebrating this year's event. (Ventura County Star)

San Luis Obispo County sends Catherine Hall to state finals:
The Mission Prep senior honored with San Luis Obispo High School freshman, Ariana Shakibnia, who came in second. Next for Catherine: state finals in Sacramento, March 15. (The Tribune)

South Tahoe High School's David Butler 1st in El Dorado County:
"I’ll definitely be returning next year!" says Oak Ridge High's Rebecca Shields. Next for Butler: state finals in Sacramento, March 15. (Tahoe Arts and Mountain Culture)

Maya Haines off to state finals:
The C.K. McClatchy High School was first in Sacramento County's fifth annual POLoud contest. Marsalis Cannady, of Pleasant Grove High School, second. (Valley Community Newspapers, Inc.)

Mount Shasta High School's Rachel Cooper wins in Siskiyou County:
State-wide competition in Sacramento next. (Mount Shasta Herald)

Ventura County winner is Tammy Li; Zachary Berliner alternate:
Next for Li: state-wide competition, March 15, in Sacramento. (Ventura County Star)

Ocil Herrejón wins Yuba-Sutter regional:
Autumn Buck second. Next up for Herrejón: state competition March 14-15 in Sacramento. (Appeal-Democrat)

San Luis Obispo County competition tonight, Feb. 10:
"A lot of people around school and in my family know me as the 'Phenomenal Woman' speaker," says Nipomo High School competitor, Marissa Ribeiro. (The Tribune)

Middletown's Mellany Watson 1st in Lake County competition:
Jennifer Harte (Middletown) second, Rachaelanne Weiss (Richard E. Lewis Independent Study) third. (Record-Bee)

"Somehow, they managed to squeeze in poetry:"
And then some: Sonoma County competition a triumph again this year, with Giovanny Espinosa, Brooke McLaughlin, Jazmin Gudino, and Sierra Downey emerging with top honors. (The Press Democrat)

Dos Pueblos H.S.'s Kelly Nakashima 1st in Santa Barbara County:
Sarah Friedland, also of DPHS, second, Andrew McCaffery of Laguna Blanca Schoo,l honorable mention. Next for Kelly: state finals in Sacramento, March 15. (Edhat.com)

Sonoma County competition, Saturday, Feb. 6:
Terry Ehret will emcee the event at the Glaser Center, Santa Rosa. (Petaluma360.com)

Marin County high schools to compete Saturday, Feb. 6:
Winner of regional to represent Marin at state finals. (SFGate.com)

CT:

Commission on Culture & Tourism announces POL partnership:
Commission joins with Saint Joseph College's Carol Autorino Center for the Arts and Humanities in West Hartford, to implement Connecticut's fifth annual Poetry Out Loud program. (Hartford Courant)

Connecticut Poetry Out Loud program announced:
Connecticut Commission on Culture & Tourism announces 5th annual program, with state finals slated for March 16. (Connecticut Commission on Culture & Tourism)

CO:

Ben Reilly first, Zack Clemmons second in Colorado finals:
Next up for the champion: nationals in Washington, D.C. (The Colorado Council on the Arts)
 • "I wasn’t really nervous at all," says the champ. (Denver Daily News)

DE:

Alex Cummiskey's latest performance earns him a place in nationals:
The Middletown High School junior is first is Delaware state champion. (Middletown Transcript)
 • More (Delaware Division of the Arts)

State finals Wednesday, Feb. 24:
Free event at 6 p.m. at the Smyrna Opera House. (The News Journal)

IA:

John-Emmett Mahon wins in Iowa:
The PeaceMakers Academy student takes state finals, goes next to nationals. (The Des-Moines Register)

Krista Klocke wins first competition for Ames homeschooled students:
Next up for Krista: state finals in Des Moines, March 6. (Ames Tribune)

Nineteen Iowa students head for state finals:
The free event begins at 1 p.m., MArch 6, at the State Historical Building in Des Moines. (The Des Moines Register)

Three Siouxland students will be among 19 Iowa finalists:
Burgundy Zellmer of Kingsley-Pierson, Dana Sly of Sioux City North, and John-Emmet Mahon, of PeaceMakers Academy, will compete March 6 at the State Historical Building in Des Moines. (Sioux City Journal)

North High School senior Dana Sly off state finals:
Shakespeare's "Sonnet XVIII: Shall I compare thee to a Summer’s Day" and "Litany," by Billy Collins, get her to Des Moines. (Sioux City Journal)

ID:

Idaho state finals Saturday, Feb. 27:
13 students to compete at 7 p.m. at the Special Events Center in the Boise State Student Union.(Boise Weekly)

IL:

Annette Putnam takes state title:
The Orion High School senior advances to nationals. (Quad-Cities Online)
 • More (Illinois Arts Council)

State finalists announced:
Sixteen regional winners advance to finals on March 18 in Springfield. (Illinois Government News Network)

Jamal Sims and David Michael Jones make state finals:
The Southeast High School students will compete March 18. (The State Journal-Register)

Maine East HS senior Dana Castillo first in Chicagoland regional:
Paulina Nowak second, Dominika Koziol third. Next up for Dana: state finals, March 18. (Chicago Press Release Services)

KS:

Casha Mills first in Kansas:
Shawnee Mission North High School's champion moves on to nationals. (The Topeka Capital-Journal)
 • More (Kansas infoZine)

State finals March 12:
Finalists announced for the event at the Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site in Topeka. (WIBW.com)

KY:

Barbara Gooding returns to national finals:
Kentucky champion for a second time, she was last year's national runner-up. (The State Journal)

LA:

Terrebonne Parish students head to state finals:
Terrebonne High School's Julio Contreras and H.L. Bourgeois High School's Seth Michael Desalvo will compete in Baton Rouge, March 6. (HoumaToday.com)

St. Tammany Parish competition set for Feb. 9:
Seven high schools set to compete at Mandeville High School at noon. (ActionNews17)

MA:

Wilmene Hercule takes second state title:
The Prospect Hill Academy Charter School sophomore heads for national finals once again. (BroadwayWorld.com)

Rebecca Gray represents Swampscott High School at state:
The school's POL competition in which she placed first was part of other school poetry events this year. (The Swampscott Reporter)

Twenty-nine Randolph HS students shine in school event:
Senior Jessica Charles to go to state-wide competition for the second time. (Randolph Herald)

Alors! Grand Corps Malade meets Poetry Out Loud!
Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School's poplular POL competition provides an opportunity for Fulbright Exchange Teacher, Emmanuelle Dubois, to introduce students to "probably the most famous slam poet in France." (Wicked Local Dennis)

Encore for Burlington High School's David Murray:
The senior takes school crown a second time, off to state semi-finals in Framingham, March 7. (Burlington Union)

Hingham High School competition Feb. 11:
All welcome in the high school auditorium. (The Hingham Journal)

Swampscott High School students set for competition:
Admission is free: 6 p.m., Feb. 11, at Swampscott High School. (The Swampscott Reporter)

Blondel Binyame 1st at Malden High School:
Alison Nguyen 2nd, Edgar Palacios 3rd. Next for the winner: statewide contest, March 7. (Boston.com)
 • A photo gallery from the Malden High School competition. (Malden Observer)

Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School names winner:
Junior Emily Blodgett honored, heads for county competition. (The Register)

MD:

Nora Sandler is state champion:
Next for the senior at Richard Montgomery High School: the national finals. (The Baltimore Sun)

Aaron Henkin of WYPR-FM to host the Maryland finals:
The event will be held Saturday, Feb 27, 1:00 p.m. at Enoch Pratt Central Library, Baltimore. (Enoch Pratt Free Library)

Indian Creek School senior heads for regionals:
Neena Boyle emerges from county competition and will compete next in Annapolis, Feb. 6 at Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts. (The Capital)

Oakland Mills High School senior first in Howard CountyMD
Bria Moss-Wilkerson masters nerves, moves to regionals with second-place finisher Julia Celtnieks and third-place finisher Amy Greaney. (Howard County Times)

ME:

Six emerge from southern regional:
Aaron Bartlett; Paige Meserve; Erica Lance; Mary Montalvo; Caleb Shoemaker; and John Booth will compete for state title March 5 at the Waterville Opera House. (Journal Tribune)

Medomak Valley High School winners:
Kaitlyn Theberge and Erica Dailey move to next stage of competition. (The Herald Gazette)

MI:

Lauren Treiber wins in Michigan:
The Grand Rapids senior moves on to national finals in April. (Lansing State Journal)

Onaca Bennett to compete in state finals:
Mackinac Island Public School freshman is off to Lansing on March 6. (The St. Ignace News)

Holt High School continues tradition of POL excellence:
Two for five in past state-wide contests, 90 students enter the initial competition this year. (Lansing State Journal)

MN:

Charles Collyard first, Jamee Snyder second in state finals:
The St. Paul event sends Charles to national competiton in April. (Mille Lacs County Times)

Thomas McPhee off to state finals, March 8:
Morris Area High School student is the school's fourth regional champion. (Morris Sun Tribune)

Milaca High School's Jamee Snyder goes to state finals:
The junior takes first at regional; sophomore Kristen Schindeldecker seventh. (Mille Lacs County Times)

Southwest Minnesota regional sends two to state finals:
Lakeview HS's Alissa Sauer and Natalie Cook, first and second and on to the finals; Adrian HS's Sam Weston and Kari Louwagie, third and fourth. (The Independent)

MO:

"It makes me feel at ease..."
POL participants from Springfield's Central High School students on why they competed this year. (Video from SchoolTube)

Southwest Missouri Regional Tuesday, Feb. 16:
Students from eight area high schools will compete at 6:30 p.m. at The Creamery Arts Center in Jordan Valley Park. (Springfield News-Leader)

Southeast Missouri regional Saturday, Feb. 6:
Arts Council of Southeast Missouri hosts the event at 2 p.m. at the University Center Ballroom. (Southeast Missourian)

MS:

John Uzodinma first, Kristen Dupard second in state finals:
Next for John: national finals in Washington D.C. (The Clarion-Ledger)
 • More (The Madison County Herald)

State finals set for March 11:
Nine finalists to square off at 1 p.m. at the Auditorium at Mississippi Public Broadcasting in Jackson. (Clarion-Ledger)

NC:

Poetry and the military are dual loves for state finalist:
Swain County High School's Hayden Lindquist was among this year's state final competitors as he also competes for an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy. (The News & Observer)

Dare County sends First Flight's Madelaine Katz to state finals:
Manteo's Kiana Kinsey second in county competition. Next for Madelaine: state finals in Raleigh, March 6. (Dare County Schools)

Flyleaf Books to host district finals in Chapel Hil:
Students from Cedar Ridge and Orange High Schools will compete on Tuesday, Jan. 26, at 6:30 PM. (Flyleaf Books)

ND:

Kaley Schwab takes runner-up prize in Bismarck:
The Mandan High School student honored along with Brianna Anderson of Fargo Shanley High School, first place, and Wahpeton High School's Kaitlin McNary, third place. (Mandan News)

NH:

Arturo Jaras-Watts first in New Hampshire:
Next for the Oyster River High School senior: the national finals. (Foster's Daily Democrat)

State finals Saturday, March 20!
Keene State College’s Redfern Arts Center is the site for the 1 p.m. event, free and open to the public. (NH.com)

Kingswood Regional HS event "better than we could have dreamed."
Junior Hanna Zdrnja first, Currie DeBow runner-up. Next for Hanna: regional finals March 9 at Plymouth State University. (NewHampshireLakesAndMountains.com)

Poem first read to him by his father proves winner for Gareth Cayten:
Wins Exeter High School contest; off to regional competition next.

Keene sends Matt McDougall to regionals:
Stephanie Bilodeau second in "collegial" competition. (The Keene Sentinel)

Newmarket High School competition Wednesday, Feb. 17:
Come on out to the NHS Band Room at 7:00 p.m.! Free and open to the public... (Newmarket Happenings)

Keene competition Sunday, Feb. 14:
The Keene Public Library hosts event for six participants emerging from POL program for high school homeschoolers and high school students whose high schools are not participating this year. Finalists go to state-wide contest. (City of Keene)

Salem H.S. competition "a celebration of poetry, literature and art."
Amy Burzak emerges from classroom contests to take first place school-wide; Ali Vivinetto and Branden Stanton second and third. (Salem Observer)

NJ:

Shamsuddin Abdul-Hamid wins New Jersey crown:
The Newark Arts High School senior emerges from competition that included 82 schools and more than 17,000 New Jersey students. (The Star-Ledger)
 • More (New Jersey State Council on the Arts)

Two earn trip to state finals:
Mainland Regional High School's Julia Gosin and Williamstown's Morgan Jerkins will compete March 18 in Camden. (Press of Atlantic City)

Freshman Erica Butterhof wins at Absegami High School:
Freshman Dante Venafro takes second place. (Shore News Today)

Jamuel Feliciano emerges from Vineland High School contest:
Lauren D'Ottavio and Charlotte Harrold named runners-up. Next: the regionals on Feb.10 at Rutgers University, Camden. (The Daily Journal)

"When they returned for the program this year, they brought friends:"
Kinnelon High School moves from last year's pilot POL program, with 15 students, to the real thing, with 60 students, in 2010. (NorthJersey.com)

Julia Gosin takes Mainland Regional High School title:
Elliot Rollins second. Next: regional finals Feb. 10 at Rutgers University-Camden. (Shore News Today)

NM:

State Finals Sunday, Feb. 21!!
Join nine New Mexico high school students at the St. Francis Auditorium of the New Mexico Museum of Art in Santa Fe as they compete for the right to go to the national finals! (The Deming Headlight)

"I’m not too nervous..."
Clovis High School sophomore Savannah Armijo to compete at state level in Santa Fe. (Clovis News Journal)

State championship Feb. 21:
Nine students to contest the crown at the St. Francis Auditorium of the New Mexico Museum of Art in Santa Fe. (Silver City Sun-News)

NV:

Lyon County title goes to Casey Kilgore:
Also honored: JJ Wren, second place; Clara Rampy, third; Jessica Rameriz, fourth. (The Reno Gazette-Journal)

NY:

"It's a poetry celebration. It's a poetry slam..."
Silver Creek High School leads the way in Chautauqua County, completing its third successful year of POL competition. (The Observer)

Taylour Dickerson will represent New York in nationals:
The Knox School sophomore emerges from group of 14. (Times Union)

"Their recitations were excellent..."
Tech Valley High School juniors, Rose Biggerstaff, Rachel Kerr, and Leilani Yasutakeshine shine at regional finals. (Times Union)

Madeleine Audsley, Shelby Cross, and Margaret Wannike advance:
The Byron-Bergen students move on to regionals, Feb. 24. (Democrat and Chronicle)

OR:

Alexander Barnes, road warrior:
Speech and debate tournament in Eugene in the morning, state POL finals in Salem in the afternoon? No problem: Ashland student finishes day on the road with POL runner-up honors. (Ashland Daily Tidings)

Brynn Tran is Oregon champion:
The Lakeridge High School junior goes next to national finals. (Portland Tribune)
 • More (Portland Monthly)

Hood River Valley High School competition Feb. 18:
Columbia Center for the Arts theater is the venue; public invited to the free event. (Columbia Center for the Arts)

Mid-Valley school competitions get under way:
Five local schools to compete in February, with winners headed for state finals in March. (Statesman Journal)

PA:

Angela Goldberg wins Pennsylvania crown:
The Pleasant Valley School District senior goes for the national title next. (Pennsylvania Council on the Arts)
 • More (Times News)

Tove Johnson takes ArtsPath regional final:
The Indiana Area High School junior moves on to state final, March 15. (Indiana University of Pennsylvania)

Clara Allison moves on to state finals:
The State College Area High School student takes first in area competition; Samantha Stiner, of Philipsburg-Osceola, runner-up. (The Daily Collegian)

Judson Greene 1st in regional:
Sam Ellis 2nd, Levi Fenton 3rd in event presented by Bradford County Regional Arts Council. (The Daily Review)

Tæve Johnson 1st, Tia Kordell 2nd at Indiana Area Senior High School:
Johnson off to regional competition at Indiana University of Pennsylvania's Gorell Recital Hall, Feb. 23. (Indiana Gazette)

Bradford County Arts Council announces February 5 competition:
One of Pennsylvania's regional contests, the event will be held at the Keystone Theater in Towanda, PA. (Troy Pennysaver)

RI:

Amber Johnson is state champion:
The Classical High School wins for the second time; Sydney Hermanson of North Smithfield High School places second. (The Providence Journal)

SC:

SC: Lauren DiNicola earms trip to nationals:
The Charleston County School of the Arts student wins state title; Ashley Hall's Shannon Laribo runner-up. (The Post and Courier)

Berkeley High School crowns ninth-grader Charles Horton:
Also honored: Renee Marion second, Dylan Shaw third. (The Post and Courier)

Taylor Morton moves to state finals:
Pendleton High School student one of ten to emerge from regional competitions. (Anderson Independent Mail)

Lowcountry regional set for Sunday, Jan. 24:
Lowcountry Initiative for the Literary Arts hosts event in Charleston for competitors from 12 local high schools; trip to state finals at stake. (Charleston City Paper)

South Carolina set for fifth year of competition:
South Carolina Arts Commission launches 2010 program in 36 high schools. (South Carolina News)

TN:

Clifton Smith wins Tennessee crown:
The Haywood County High School student will represent the state in the national finals. (WZTV)

State finals Saturday, March 20!
The W.O. Smith Nashville Community Music School hosts the event, free and open to the public from 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m. (The Daily Herald)

UT:

Victory takes multiple forms in Utah state finals:
Caroline Liston takes first and heads for the national finals, while Lissa Snapp wins by being able to perfrom at all. (The Salt Lake Tribune)

"I've practiced everywhere all the time..."
State runner-up calls POL "the single drive of my mind" during the rounds of competition. (Salt Lake Tribune)

VA:

Virginia's Tia Robinson competes on national stage for the second time:
And that wasn't enough! The Rappahannock High School senior capped her trip to the national finals by staying up until 2 a.m. reciting poetry with new-found friends from the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Pennsylvania and Mississippi. (The Free Lance-Star)

Tia Robinson takes Virginia title for the second time:
Next for the Rappahannock High School senior: national finals in Washington, D.C. (Fredericksburg.com)

VT:

John Marshall wins in Vermont:
"I was completely blown away," says the Sharon Academy sophomore. (WCAX.com)
 • More (Randolph Herald)

WA:

BreAnna Jones wins third state title:
West Valley High School senior moves on to nationals. (Yakima Herald-Republic)

Vanessa Serrano tops in SW Washington regional:
Double the number of regional competitors marked this year's POL campaign. Next for Vanessa: state finals in Olympia, March 20. (Poetry Out Loud)

Ellen Wise takes Northwest Washington Regional Final:
The Stanwood High School student heads for statewide competition in March. (goskagit.com)

Get Lit! Programs hosts regional competition in Spokane, Feb. 5:
The Early Bird Room of the Davenport Hotel is the venue for the 6:30 PM contest, which will send two to the state finals. (Get Lit!)

WV:

Jasmine Lewis first in West Virginia:
Next for The Spring Valley High School student: Washington, D.C. and the national finals. (The Charleston Gazette)
 • More (The Herald Dispatch)
 • Photo Gallery (West Virginia Division of Culture and History)

Actor Chris Sarandon to emcee state finals, March 6:
The Beckley native returns for the third year. (The Charleston Gazette)

State finals set for Saturday, March 6:
West Virginia Division of Culture and History and the West Virginia Commission on the Arts to host the event at 2 p.m. in the Norman L. Fagan West Virginia State Theater of the Culture Center, State Capitol Complex in Charleston. (The Herald Dispatch)

State finals March 6 at the Culture Center in Charleston:
Actor Chris Sarandon to emcee; Nikki Giovanni, the writer, poet, educator and activist, to be guest speaker at the free event, open to all. (Gazette-Mail)