An Agency of State Government
Now in its seventeenth year, the 2021-22 Montana Poetry Out Loud program welcomes the participation of high schools across our state! Created and supported by the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with the Poetry Foundation, Poetry Out Loud engages students in learning about poetry through the memorized recitations of works by recognized poets, both contemporary and from throughout history. Through their participation students gain public speaking skills while finding their own voice.
Beginning in individual classrooms, students have the opportunity to advance to schoolwide contests, regional competitions, the Montana State Finals and—for one Montana student—the National Poetry Out Loud Finals, held in Washington D.C. in late April. For students interested in competing whose schools are not participating, this year’s program will include an at-large district that will use a video submission process to advance individuals to a regional competition or a virtual regional as needed. To learn more about the program or to explore the online anthology, visit poetryoutloud.org.
To indicate your interest in participating in this year’s program, please provide your contact information here. A member of the Montana Arts Council staff will follow up with you.
For questions or to further discuss participation, please contact Monica Grable, Montana Poetry Out Loud Coordinator, at (406) 444-6522 or Monica.Grable@mt.gov.
December 1
Schools register for participation in a regional event.
(a commitment to hold a school event and send top finishers to a regional, not specific student names.)
December 15 through January 14
Classroom (or club) competitions held
January 17 – 28
Schoolwide competitions held, participants confirmed
January 31
Student registrations due by midnight, for participation in regional events
February 24
Regional events available for viewing on this site
March 11, 2022
Montana POL State Finals via YouTube Live
POL Northwest and Northcentral Belt/Flathead/Simms/Eureka
Top 6 finalists from the event:
Kenna Anderson | Flathead High School
Rachel Campbell | Chrysalis School
Nora Duncan | Chrysalis School
Brady Drummond | Belt High School
Gracie Thiel-Watson | Belt High School
Molly Tingey | Belt High School
Alternate: Anastasia Bouick | Simms High School
POL Southwest and Southcentral Missoula/Red Lodge/Hamilton/Powell County
Top 6 finalists from the event:
Zoe Belinda | Red Lodge High School
Jasmine Eggert | Sentinel High School
Adeline Glidewell | Valley Christian School
Lucy Johnstone | Hellgate High School
Ellis Mastel | Red Lodge High School
Echo McTague | Hellgate High School
Alternate: Eliana Foss | Hamilton High School
Congratulations to all competitors!
View Finals here. | View competition program here.
State Champion: Brady Drummond
Second Place: Anna Christensen
Third Place: Molly Tingey
Fourth Place: Ellis Mastel
Fifth Place: Zoe Belinda
POL Northwest and Northcentral Belt/Flathead/Polson
*Alternate: Isabella Shinn
POL Southwest and Southcentral Hellgate/Red Lodge/Thompson Falls*Alternate: Shaylee Quenzer
Congratulations to all competitors!
Visit the National Endowment for the Arts' Poetry Out Loud Home Page
Created by the National Endowment for the Arts, in partnership with the Poetry Foundation and the Montana Arts Council, Poetry Out Loud is a contest that encourages the nation’s youth to learn about great poetry through memorization and recitation. This program helps students master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn about their literary heritage.
Beginning at the classroom level, winners advance to a schoolwide competition, then to a regional competition, then the state finals, and ultimately to the National Finals.
1. Materials are sent to high schools beginning in August
2. Program takes place in classrooms and/or schools: October through December
3. Schoolwide Contests held: mid-to-late January
4. Regional Contests: February 1-15
5. State Finals Competition in Helena: 1st Saturday in March
*Relatives for this age group are defined as child, sibling, or any member of the employee’s household.
State Prizes
Each state champion will receive $200 and an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, DC, to compete at the National Finals. The state champion’s school will receive a $500 stipend for the purchase of poetry books. One runner-up in each state will receive $100; his or her school will receive $200 for the purchase of poetry books.
National Prizes
A total of $50,000 in awards and school stipends will be given at the Poetry Out Loud National Finals, with a $20,000 award for the National Champion. The second-place winner will receive a $10,000 award; the third-place winner will receive $5,000; and the fourth- to twelfth-place winners will each receive $1,000. The schools of the top 12 finalists will receive $500 for the purchase of poetry books.
Montana students in grades 9-12 are eligible to participate in Poetry Out Loud regional and state competitions. Middle school educators and librarians are encouraged to engage their students in the program at the school level in preparation for participation in high school. To learn more, please contact Monica Grable, Montana Poetry Out Loud Coordinator, at (406) 444-6522 or Monica.Grable@mt.gov.
To indicate your interest in participating, please provide your contact information below and a member of the Montana Arts Council staff will follow up with you.
2021
1st | Brady Drummond
2nd | Anna Christensen
2020
1st | Isabella Shinn, Flathead High School
2nd | Katy McCumber, Butte High School
2019
1st | Sophie Barth of Butte High School
2nd | Victoria Shelton of Belt High School
2018
1st | Anna Hedinger of Flathead High School
2nd | Clint Connors of Butte High School
2017
1st | Anaka Ronan of Helena High School
2nd | Claire Parsons of Hellgate High School
2016
1st | Savannah Smith of Helena High
2nd | Taylor Blossom of Capital High
2015
1st | Taylor Rogers of Willard Alternative High
2nd | Taylor Blossom of Capital High
2014
1st | Sowmya Sudhakar of Butte High
2nd | Darcie Caldwell of Helena High
2013
1st | Taylor Blossom of Capital High
2nd | Stella Shannon of Hellgate High
2012
1st | Austin Graef of Hellgate High
2nd | Stella Shannon of Hellgate High
2011
1st | Stella Shannon of Hellgate High
2nd | Bella DeLong of Helena High
2010
1st | Diego Steele of Sentinel High | Diego placed in the top nine at the National Finals in Washington, D.C.
2nd | Bella DeLong of Helena High
2009
1st | Sara Larson of Butte High
2nd | Adryan Kransky of Hellgate High
2008
1st | Amber Greymorning of Hellgate High
2nd | Mike Zarling of Helena High
2007
1st | Josh Kelly of Flathead High | Josh placed in the top five at the National Finals in Washington, D.C.
2nd | Jana Barros of Helena High
2006
1st | Cassin LaFontaine of Helena High
2nd | Christian Munck of Helena High