WHAT: Nine student finalists representing high schools from Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Maryland, Montana, Puerto Rico, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia match their skills in reciting classic and contemporary poetry in a contest for the title of National Poetry Out Loud Champion and a $20,000 award. Poetry Out Loud National Recitation Contest is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the Poetry Foundation.  

WHEN/WHERE: Wednesday, May 4, 7:00 pm - 9:15 pm ET, Lisner Auditorium, George Washington University, 730 21st Street, NW, Washington, DC. Not in DC?  Poetry fans nationwide can take part in the event via a live, one-time-only webcast at www.arts.gov.

WHO: Speakers and participants are host, Elizabeth Acevedo, award-winning poet. Guest judges include Alice Quinn, executive director of the Poetry Society of America; authors Jacqueline Woodson and Virgil Suárez; playwright and poetry slam champion José Antonio Vadi; and actor Chris Sarandon. The featured performer is hip-hop artist and multi-instrumentalist Christylez Bacon.

2016 Poetry Out Loud National Finalists:

• Georgia State Champion Marta Palombo, Cambridge High School, Alpharetta, GA
• Hawaii State Champion Nicholas Amador, Punahou School, Honolulu, HI
• Louisiana State Champion Kyla Rose Bates, Zachary High School, Baton Rouge, LA
• Maryland State Champion Sharese Acheampong, New Town High School, Owings Mills, MD  
• Montana State Champion Savannah Smith, Helena High School, Helena, MT
• Puerto Rico State Champion Wenmimareba Klobah Collins, University High School, San Juan, PR
• Texas State Champion Madison Heggins, Lewisville High School, Lewisville, TX
• Virginia State Champion Ahkei Togun, Tallwood High School, Virginia Beach, VA
• West Virginia State Champion Neely Seams, Greenbrier East High School, Lewisburg, WV

INTERVIEWS: Pre-event interviews with the nine national finalists are at 6:00 – 6:30 pm. Post-event photos and interviews with finalists, judges, and speakers take place onstage, 9:15 – 9:45 pm.

OTHER:  The Poetry Out Loud Semifinals and National Finals are free and open to the public; no tickets or reservations are required. Both events will offer ASL interpretation. For more information call 202-682-5606 or visit arts.gov.

WEBCAST: Watch the finals through a closed captioned, one-time-only webcast at arts.gov.

PHOTOS/VIDEO: Photos and video of #POL16 Semifinals and Finals will be available at this link.

FOLLOW: Poetry Out Loud is on Twitter at @PoetryOutLoud and @NEAarts, #POL16. 

CONTACT: Media must RSVP to Sally Gifford, NEA Public Affairs, 202-682-5606 or giffords@arts.gov. Video crews covering the Wednesday night National Finals must arrive by 6:45 pm to reserve a space. No flash photography.

Downloadable photos and video of the 2016 Poetry Out Loud National Finalists