Out of the 157,000 students that participated in Poetry Out Loud nationwide this school year, 55 are now advancing to the 2025 National Finals May 6-7 in Washington, DC, where one will win the national champion title and a $20,000 cash prize. This marks the 20th anniversary of Poetry Out Loud, a poetry recitation competition and arts education program that encourages the study of contemporary and classic poems. Since its inception in 2005, Poetry Out Loud has reached more than 4.5 million students.
Elizabeth Silva, an 11th grade student representing Baylor School, was named the 2025 Tennessee Poetry Out Loud champion, one of more than 157,000 students to compete in this poetry recitation competition across the nation this year. Ms. Silva is now advancing to the Poetry Out Loud National Semifinals in Washington, DC on Tuesday, May 6.
One champion from every state and American Samoa, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands will compete in the national semifinals. Nine finalists will then proceed to the finals on Wednesday, May 7, hosted by National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature Mac Barnett. The semifinals and finals will take place at the Lisner Auditorium at the George Washington University and will be available through a one-time only webcast at Arts.gov/Poetry-Out-Loud. Visit PoetryOutLoud.org for the list of the 2025 Poetry Out Loud champions who will take part in the competition.
Poetry Out Loud is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation along with state and jurisdictional arts agencies.
“We are thrilled to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Poetry Out Loud by welcoming these talented students to Washington, DC, for the National Finals,” said Amy Stolls, director of Literary Arts at the National Endowment for the Arts. “This event represents the culmination of months of dedication and hard work from not only our champions, but also the family members, teachers, and mentors who have supported them every step of the way. These students will showcase a level of skill, poise, and passion that will serve them well wherever they go, and we look forward to watching them shine on the National Finals stage.”
“The Poetry Out Loud program is a testament to the power of words to transform lives, and every one of the finalists competing this year is living proof of it,” said Poetry Foundation president and CEO, Michelle T. Boone. “For 20 years, the Poetry Foundation’s staff and board members have been proud to welcome these talented young people from across the nation. We thank everyone who supported them throughout their Poetry Out Loud journey and look forward to cheering them all at the finals.”
A total of $50,000 in cash prizes and school or organizational stipends will be awarded at the National Finals, including $20,000 for the Poetry Out Loud National Champion, and $10,000 and $5,000 for the second- and third-place finalists, respectively. The Poetry Foundation provides and administers all aspects of the monetary prizes awarded for Poetry Out Loud. The Poetry Out Loud National Finals are administered by Mid Atlantic Arts.
National Semifinals—Tuesday, May 6, 2025
The state and jurisdictional champions will compete in one of three National Semifinals between 9 a.m.-8 p.m. at Lisner Auditorium, the George Washington University, 730 21st Street NW, Washington, DC. All three semifinals are free and open to the public—no ticket required.
Each poem recitation will be judged on criteria including physical presence, voice and articulation, interpretation, evidence of understanding, overall performance, and accuracy. The top three students from each semifinal, nine in total, will move on to the National Finals on May 7.
The National Finals, hosted by National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature Mac Barnett, will take place at 7 p.m., also at Lisner Auditorium, and will culminate with the announcement of the 2025 Poetry Out Loud National Champion. The National Finals are free and open to the public—no ticket required.
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.
Closed captioning in English and Spanish and American Sign Language interpretation will be provided for both the Poetry Out Loud National Semifinals and Finals.