On March 20th, (10) Alaska State Poetry Out Loud Finalists will gather for the Alaska State
Competition in the Capital City of Juneau. KTOO Public Media, in partnership with Alaska
Poetry Out Loud, will webcast the Alaska State Finals on ktoo.org beginning at 5pm,
broadcasting on KTOO 360TV at 8pm on March 23rd.

The 2023 Alaska State Poetry Out Loud Finalists are:
• Brielle Lorentzen of Tanalian School in Port Alsworth
• Brigitta Ta'aga of West Anchorage High School
• Eleanor Kandoll of Petersburg High School
• Graham Granger of Redington Jr/Sr High School in Wasilla
• Katelyn Stiles of Thunder Mountain High School in Juneau
• Madelynne Brehmer of North Pole High School
• Mina Yee of Skagway School
• Silas Somers of Upstream Learning in Glennallen
• Thea Person of Homer High School
• Violet Bowie of West Anchorage High School 

TIMELINE

Complete Alaska Poetry Out Loud Timeline for 2022-2023

Week of August 15, 2022

AK POL Registration for schools and at-large participants open

September 1, 2022

POL online anthology live for 2022-23 school year

November 15, 2022

Deadline for AK POL Registration

Prior to winter break: recommended completion of classroom/school competitions 

February 6, 2023

Deadline for submission of Regional AK POL videos for adjudication

February 9-11, 2023

Regional AK POL Video Adjudication

February 13, 2023

Announcement of AK POL State Finalists!

February 13 – March 19, 2023

AK POL State Finalist online meet-and-greet, distance coaching, coordination, and State AK POL preparation

March 20, 2023

Deadline to hold a state final competition

March 23, 2023

Deadline for state champs and chaperones to register for National Finals

May 8-10, 2023

Poetry Out Loud National Finals in Washington, DC

WHAT IS THE PROCESS

In 2023 Alaska Regional (AK POL) Competitions will be video-adjudicated, across the state, with the goal to hold an in-person competition for State Finals in Juneau. In-person gathering for the State AK POL competition will be dependent on the conditions for the State of Alaska and the COVID-19 pandemic. The AK POL planning committee will make a determination about the State POL Competition before winter break.

Poetry Out Loud (POL) competitions may be held virtually or in person at any level of competition, including classroom and school competitions. In order to be eligible to compete at the state level of competition, a student must compete at a prior level of competition; the AK POL competition requires that a student competes in the Regional video adjudication in order to be eligible for the State competition. For organizers who elect to hold an in-person contest, at the local level, please follow any federal, state, and local guidelines in regard to slowing the spread of COVID-19. This may include wearing masks, enforcing social distancing measures, hand sanitizing, and ensuring participants and guardians are not displaying symptoms of COVID-19 prior to attending, and while participating in, a POL event.

Each participant at the regional level of competition will be required to submit videos for two poem recitations; each participant at the state level of competition will be required to prepare three poem recitations.

At the school level, each school including grades 9-12 coordinates its own competition. School winners participate in a region-wide competition, with regions to be determined by the AK POL planning committee following the registration period. Participating, registered Schools may identify between 1-4 students to send forward to the region-wide competition: the deadline for submitting videos to the regional level of competition is February 1, 2023.

For the 2022-2023 school cycle, the Alaska Poetry Out Loud program will also accept at-large registrations by individual students, to compete directly in the Regional level of competition providing the following guidelines are met:

1) An at-large, individual student participants must identify an AK POL School teacher/liaison/coach, who has agreed to be a point of contact with the AK POL planning committee, and
2) If the student’s school is registered for AK POL, the student must participate in the school competition. If more than four at-large, individual student participants register from any school entity, the school must determine the four students who will proceed forward to the Regional level of competition, from their school.

Should more than four individual students register from a single school, where the school is not registered, the AK POL planning committee will consult and coordinate with that school in mounting a school competition. Guidance for organizing a competition at the classroom and school competition is available at: https://www.poetryoutloud.org/teachers-organizers/organize-a-contest/. Please note: in the case where a school does not have enough students to hold a classroom or school competition, AK POL’s Regional level of competition will meet the program guidelines for eligibility.

Additional information including, the official Poetry Out Loud poem anthology, information about organizing a classroom or school competition, and teaching resources for Poetry Out Loud at: www.poetryoutloud.org.

What is Poetry Out Loud?

Poetry Out Loud (POL) is a national poetry recitation competition for high school students. By encouraging youth to learn about great poetry through memorization and performance, students can master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn about their literary heritage. The program and all materials are provided to each partner at no cost.

Participating partners host their own competitions and select a student to represent their school at the state finals. Each year, the state champion advances to the national finals in Washington, D.C. and competes for a $20,000 college scholarship. In order to ensure the safety and health of participating students and staff, the 2021 POL National Finals will be held virtually in lieu of holding them on-site in Washington D.C. as previously planned.

CONTACTS

Amanda Filori, Alaska Poetry Out Loud Coordinator
Juneau Arts and Humanities Council
(907) 419-7828 (cell)
email: pol@jahc.org

Laura Forbes, Arts Education Program Director
Alaska State Council on the Arts
(907) 269-6682 (w) (907) 394-1525 (cell)
email: laura.forbes@alaska.gov

 

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