Final Competition for 2025 Poetry Out Loud Nationals on May 7, 2025

WHAT: Out of a field of 55 state and jurisdictional champions, nine high school students are advancing to the 2025 Poetry Out Loud National Finals on May 7. These young people will recite classic and contemporary poems, competing for the title of 2025 Poetry Out Loud National Champion and a $20,000 cash prize. 

Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, Poetry Out Loud is a partnership between the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation, along with the state and jurisdictional arts agencies. It has reached more than 4.5 million students since it began in 2005. This year’s state and jurisdictional champions advanced from more than 157,000 students nationwide. 

WHEN/WHERE: Wednesday, May 7, 7:00–9:15 p.m. ET at Lisner Auditorium, The George Washington University, 730 21st Street NW, Washington, DC. In addition, there will be a live, one-time-only webcast at arts.gov/Poetry-Out-Loud. 

WHO: Hosted by Mac Barnett, National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature. Judges are Rick Barot, Carmen Giménez, Candice Iloh, Roderick Justice, and Jasminne Mendez. The evening will also include a performance by singer, songwriter, and poet Jamila Woods, supported by the Poetry Foundation. 

2025 Poetry Out Loud National Finalists: 

• Alaska Champion Mona Koko, a 12th grade student at West Anchorage High School 
• District of Columbia Champion Nyla Dinkins, an 11th grade student at Benjamin Banneker Academic High School 
• Georgia Champion Tiana Renee Jones, an 11th grade student at Whitefield Academy 
• Kentucky Champion Javontae Cranmo, a 12th grade student at Beechwood High School 
• New Jersey Champion Hadassah Broughton, a 10th grade student at Stuart Country Day School of the Sacred Heart 
• New Mexico Champion Kaitlyn Lubega, a 12th grade student at United World College – USA 
• Oklahoma Champion Elisha Dalmeida, a 12th grade student at Jenks High School 
• Pennsylvania Champion Isavel Mendoza, a 12th grade student at Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts 
• South Dakota Champion Teonna Randle, a 12th grade student at Jefferson High School

PHOTOS/VIDEOS: 

• Photos from the May 6 Poetry Out Loud National Semifinals (credit James Kegley) 
• Video interviews with the nine finalists and their poetry recitations

CONTACT: Media must send a request for coverage to coonsc@arts.gov by 5 p.m. ET tonight. Video crews covering the Thursday night national finals must arrive by 6:45 p.m. to reserve a space. No flash photography.