Poetry Out Loud

Poetry Out Loud is a national arts education program that encourages the study of great poetry by offering free educational materials and a dynamic recitation competition for high school students across the country. This program helps students master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn about literary history and contemporary life. Poetry Out Loud is a partnership of the National Endowment for the Arts, Poetry Foundation, and the state and jurisdictional arts agencies. Since 2005, Poetry Out Loud has grown to reach more than 4 million students and 65,000 teachers from 16,000 schools in every state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa.

2025 San Luis Obispo County Poetry Out Loud Competition

February 8th, 2025 | 6pm to 8pm | Doors at 5:30pm
San Luis Obispo Museum of Art | 1010 Broad Street, San Luis Obispo
Free and open to the public!

2024 Poetry Out Loud

We were proud to host the first in-person Poetry Out Loud competition for the first time since 2019 at the San Luis Obispo Museum of Art in February 2024. Six students from high schools across San Luis Obispo County shared the stage to compete in two rounds of inspiring recitations. Annika Miltner from San Luis Obispo High School was named the champion, with Kevin Merced Montes (Coast Union High School) the runner-up and Ru Schulte (Paso Robles High School) and Nyjah Anaya (Arroyo Grande High School) tied for third place.

Annika represented San Luis Obispo County at the California State Finals in Sacramento March 17-18, 2024. Congratulations to all six finalists!

Pictured from left to right: Ru Schulte (Paso Robles High School), Nyjah Anaya (Arroyo Grande High School), Kevin Merced Montes (Coast Union High School), Dian Lewis (Morro Bay High School), Lyla Dillon (San Luis Obispo Classical Academy), Annika Miltner (San Luis Obispo High School)