AK:

State Finalists announced:
The Juneau Arts & Humanities Council and Alaska Arts Education Consortium announce eight students who will compete at the Juneau Arts & Culture Center, Feb. 23. (Juneau Empire)

State finals set for Feb. 23:
Be there! 5 p.m. at the Juneau Arts & Culture Center. (Capital City Weekly)

Kira Wilkinson goes to state finals, Feb. 23:
The Kwigillingok student will join Jessica Wilder, Anchorage; Susan Way, Fairbanks; Sami Martinez, Juneau; April Hostetter, Igiugig; Berett Wilber, Sitka; Kristen Luchsinger, Wasilla; and Elizabeth Porter, Delta Junction; at the event in Juneau. (The Bristol Bay Times)

AZ:

Emiley Walter takes crown at Tri-City College Preparatory H.S.:
Next for the senior: Arizona State Championship competition in March. (The Daily Courier)

CA:

Ventura County competition captured:
A photo gallery celebrating this year's event. (Ventura County Star)

San Luis Obispo County sends Catherine Hall to state finals:
The Mission Prep senior honored with San Luis Obispo High School freshman, Ariana Shakibnia, who came in second. Next for Catherine: state finals in Sacramento, March 15. (The Tribune)

South Tahoe High School's David Butler 1st in El Dorado County:
"I’ll definitely be returning next year!" says Oak Ridge High's Rebecca Shields. Next for Butler: state finals in Sacramento, March 15. (Tahoe Arts and Mountain Culture)

Maya Haines off to state finals:
The C.K. McClatchy High School was first in Sacramento County's fifth annual POLoud contest. Marsalis Cannady, of Pleasant Grove High School, second. (Valley Community Newspapers, Inc.)

Mount Shasta High School's Rachel Cooper wins in Siskiyou County:
State-wide competition in Sacramento next. (Mount Shasta Herald)

Ventura County winner is Tammy Li; Zachary Berliner alternate:
Next for Li: state-wide competition, March 15, in Sacramento. (Ventura County Star)

Ocil Herrejón wins Yuba-Sutter regional:
Autumn Buck second. Next up for Herrejón: state competition March 14-15 in Sacramento. (Appeal-Democrat)

San Luis Obispo County competition tonight, Feb. 10:
"A lot of people around school and in my family know me as the 'Phenomenal Woman' speaker," says Nipomo High School competitor, Marissa Ribeiro. (The Tribune)

Middletown's Mellany Watson 1st in Lake County competition:
Jennifer Harte (Middletown) second, Rachaelanne Weiss (Richard E. Lewis Independent Study) third. (Record-Bee)

"Somehow, they managed to squeeze in poetry:"
And then some: Sonoma County competition a triumph again this year, with Giovanny Espinosa, Brooke McLaughlin, Jazmin Gudino, and Sierra Downey emerging with top honors. (The Press Democrat)

Dos Pueblos H.S.'s Kelly Nakashima 1st in Santa Barbara County:
Sarah Friedland, also of DPHS, second, Andrew McCaffery of Laguna Blanca Schoo,l honorable mention. Next for Kelly: state finals in Sacramento, March 15. (Edhat.com)

Sonoma County competition, Saturday, Feb. 6:
Terry Ehret will emcee the event at the Glaser Center, Santa Rosa. (Petaluma360.com)

Marin County high schools to compete Saturday, Feb. 6:
Winner of regional to represent Marin at state finals. (SFGate.com)

CT:

Commission on Culture & Tourism announces POL partnership:
Commission joins with Saint Joseph College's Carol Autorino Center for the Arts and Humanities in West Hartford, to implement Connecticut's fifth annual Poetry Out Loud program. (Hartford Courant)

Connecticut Poetry Out Loud program announced:
Connecticut Commission on Culture & Tourism announces 5th annual program, with state finals slated for March 16. (Connecticut Commission on Culture & Tourism)

DE:

State finals Wednesday, Feb. 24:
Free event at 6 p.m. at the Smyrna Opera House. (The News Journal)

IA:

Krista Klocke wins first competition for Ames homeschooled students:
Next up for Krista: state finals in Des Moines, March 6. (Ames Tribune)

Nineteen Iowa students head for state finals:
The free event begins at 1 p.m., MArch 6, at the State Historical Building in Des Moines. (The Des Moines Register)

Three Siouxland students will be among 19 Iowa finalists:
Burgundy Zellmer of Kingsley-Pierson, Dana Sly of Sioux City North, and John-Emmet Mahon, of PeaceMakers Academy, will compete March 6 at the State Historical Building in Des Moines. (Sioux City Journal)

North High School senior Dana Sly off state finals:
Shakespeare's "Sonnet XVIII: Shall I compare thee to a Summer’s Day" and "Litany," by Billy Collins, get her to Des Moines. (Sioux City Journal)

ID:

Idaho state finals Saturday, Feb. 27:
13 students to compete at 7 p.m. at the Special Events Center in the Boise State Student Union.(Boise Weekly)

IL:

Jamal Sims and David Michael Jones make state finals:
The Southeast High School students will compete March 18. (The State Journal-Register)

Maine East HS senior Dana Castillo first in Chicagoland regional:
Paulina Nowak second, Dominika Koziol third. Next up for Dana: state finals, March 18. (Chicago Press Release Services)

KS:

State finals March 12:
Finalists announced for the event at the Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site in Topeka. (WIBW.com)

LA:

Terrebonne Parish students head to state finals:
Terrebonne High School's Julio Contreras and H.L. Bourgeois High School's Seth Michael Desalvo will compete in Baton Rouge, March 6. (HoumaToday.com)

St. Tammany Parish competition set for Feb. 9:
Seven high schools set to compete at Mandeville High School at noon. (ActionNews17)

MA:

Twenty-nine Randolph HS students shine in school event:
Senior Jessica Charles to go to state-wide competition for the second time. (Randolph Herald)

Alors! Grand Corps Malade meets Poetry Out Loud!
Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School's poplular POL competition provides an opportunity for Fulbright Exchange Teacher, Emmanuelle Dubois, to introduce students to "probably the most famous slam poet in France." (Wicked Local Dennis)

Encore for Burlington High School's David Murray:
The senior takes school crown a second time, off to state semi-finals in Framingham, March 7. (Burlington Union)

Hingham High School competition Feb. 11:
All welcome in the high school auditorium. (The Hingham Journal)

Swampscott High School students set for competition:
Admission is free: 6 p.m., Feb. 11, at Swampscott High School. (The Swampscott Reporter)

Blondel Binyame 1st at Malden High School:
Alison Nguyen 2nd, Edgar Palacios 3rd. Next for the winner: statewide contest, March 7. (Boston.com)
 • A photo gallery from the Malden High School competition. (Malden Observer)

Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School names winner:
Junior Emily Blodgett honored, heads for county competition. (The Register)

MD:

Nora Sandler is state champion:
Next for the senior at Richard Montgomery High School: the national finals. (The Baltimore Sun)

Aaron Henkin of WYPR-FM to host the Maryland finals:
The event will be held Saturday, Feb 27, 1:00 p.m. at Enoch Pratt Central Library, Baltimore. (Enoch Pratt Free Library)

Indian Creek School senior heads for regionals:
Neena Boyle emerges from county competition and will compete next in Annapolis, Feb. 6 at Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts. (The Capital)

Oakland Mills High School senior first in Howard CountyMD
Bria Moss-Wilkerson masters nerves, moves to regionals with second-place finisher Julia Celtnieks and third-place finisher Amy Greaney. (Howard County Times)

ME:

Six emerge from southern regional:
Aaron Bartlett; Paige Meserve; Erica Lance; Mary Montalvo; Caleb Shoemaker; and John Booth will compete for state title March 5 at the Waterville Opera House. (Journal Tribune)

Medomak Valley High School winners:
Kaitlyn Theberge and Erica Dailey move to next stage of competition. (The Herald Gazette)

MI:

Holt High School continues tradition of POL excellence:
Two for five in past state-wide contests, 90 students enter the initial competition this year. (Lansing State Journal)

MN:

Thomas McPhee off to state finals, March 8:
Morris Area High School student is the school's fourth regional champion. (Morris Sun Tribune)

Milaca High School's Jamee Snyder goes to state finals:
The junior takes first at regional; sophomore Kristen Schindeldecker seventh. (Mille Lacs County Times)

Southwest Minnesota regional sends two to state finals:
Lakeview HS's Alissa Sauer and Natalie Cook, first and second and on to the finals; Adrian HS's Sam Weston and Kari Louwagie, third and fourth. (The Independent)

MO:

"It makes me feel at ease..."
POL participants from Springfield's Central High School students on why they competed this year. (Video from SchoolTube)

Southwest Missouri Regional Tuesday, Feb. 16:
Students from eight area high schools will compete at 6:30 p.m. at The Creamery Arts Center in Jordan Valley Park. (Springfield News-Leader)

Southeast Missouri regional Saturday, Feb. 6:
Arts Council of Southeast Missouri hosts the event at 2 p.m. at the University Center Ballroom. (Southeast Missourian)

NC:

Dare County sends First Flight's Madelaine Katz to state finals:
Manteo's Kiana Kinsey second in county competition. Next for Madelaine: state finals in Raleigh, March 6. (Dare County Schools)

Flyleaf Books to host district finals in Chapel Hil:
Students from Cedar Ridge and Orange High Schools will compete on Tuesday, Jan. 26, at 6:30 PM. (Flyleaf Books)

NH:

Kingswood Regional HS event "better than we could have dreamed."
Junior Hanna Zdrnja first, Currie DeBow runner-up. Next for Hanna: regional finals March 9 at Plymouth State University. (NewHampshireLakesAndMountains.com)

Poem first read to him by his father proves winner for Gareth Cayten:
Wins Exeter High School contest; off to regional competition next.

Keene sends Matt McDougall to regionals:
Stephanie Bilodeau second in "collegial" competition. (The Keene Sentinel)

Newmarket High School competition Wednesday, Feb. 17:
Come on out to the NHS Band Room at 7:00 p.m.! Free and open to the public... (Newmarket Happenings)

Keene competition Sunday, Feb. 14:
The Keene Public Library hosts event for six participants emerging from POL program for high school homeschoolers and high school students whose high schools are not participating this year. Finalists go to state-wide contest. (City of Keene)

Salem H.S. competition "a celebration of poetry, literature and art."
Amy Burzak emerges from classroom contests to take first place school-wide; Ali Vivinetto and Branden Stanton second and third. (Salem Observer)

NJ:

Two earn trip to state finals:
Mainland Regional High School's Julia Gosin and Williamstown's Morgan Jerkins will compete March 18 in Camden. (Press of Atlantic City)

Freshman Erica Butterhof wins at Absegami High School:
Freshman Dante Venafro takes second place. (Shore News Today)

Jamuel Feliciano emerges from Vineland High School contest:
Lauren D'Ottavio and Charlotte Harrold named runners-up. Next: the regionals on Feb.10 at Rutgers University, Camden. (The Daily Journal)

"When they returned for the program this year, they brought friends:"
Kinnelon High School moves from last year's pilot POL program, with 15 students, to the real thing, with 60 students, in 2010. (NorthJersey.com)

Julia Gosin takes Mainland Regional High School title:
Elliot Rollins second. Next: regional finals Feb. 10 at Rutgers University-Camden. (Shore News Today)

NM:

State Finals Sunday, Feb. 21!!
Join nine New Mexico high school students at the St. Francis Auditorium of the New Mexico Museum of Art in Santa Fe as they compete for the right to go to the national finals! (The Deming Headlight)

"I’m not too nervous..."
Clovis High School sophomore Savannah Armijo to compete at state level in Santa Fe. (Clovis News Journal)

State championship Feb. 21:
Nine students to contest the crown at the St. Francis Auditorium of the New Mexico Museum of Art in Santa Fe. (Silver City Sun-News)

NV:

Lyon County title goes to Casey Kilgore:
Also honored: JJ Wren, second place; Clara Rampy, third; Jessica Rameriz, fourth. (The Reno Gazette-Journal)

NY:

"Their recitations were excellent..."
Tech Valley High School juniors, Rose Biggerstaff, Rachel Kerr, and Leilani Yasutakeshine shine at regional finals. (Times Union)

Madeleine Audsley, Shelby Cross, and Margaret Wannike advance:
The Byron-Bergen students move on to regionals, Feb. 24. (Democrat and Chronicle)

OR:

Hood River Valley High School competition Feb. 18:
Columbia Center for the Arts theater is the venue; public invited to the free event. (Columbia Center for the Arts)

Mid-Valley school competitions get under way:
Five local schools to compete in February, with winners headed for state finals in March. (Statesman Journal)

PA:

Clara Allison moves on to state finals:
The State College Area High School student takes first in area competition; Samantha Stiner, of Philipsburg-Osceola, runner-up. (The Daily Collegian)

Judson Greene 1st in regional:
Sam Ellis 2nd, Levi Fenton 3rd in event presented by Bradford County Regional Arts Council. (The Daily Review)

Tæve Johnson 1st, Tia Kordell 2nd at Indiana Area Senior High School:
Johnson off to regional competition at Indiana University of Pennsylvania's Gorell Recital Hall, Feb. 23. (Indiana Gazette)

Bradford County Arts Council announces February 5 competition:
One of Pennsylvania's regional contests, the event will be held at the Keystone Theater in Towanda, PA. (Troy Pennysaver)

RI:

Amber Johnson is state champion:
The Classical High School wins for the second time; Sydney Hermanson of North Smithfield High School places second. (The Providence Journal)

SC:

Berkeley High School crowns ninth-grader Charles Horton:
Also honored: Renee Marion second, Dylan Shaw third. (The Post and Courier)

Taylor Morton moves to state finals:
Pendleton High School student one of ten to emerge from regional competitions. (Anderson Independent Mail)

Lowcountry regional set for Sunday, Jan. 24:
Lowcountry Initiative for the Literary Arts hosts event in Charleston for competitors from 12 local high schools; trip to state finals at stake. (Charleston City Paper)

South Carolina set for fifth year of competition:
South Carolina Arts Commission launches 2010 program in 36 high schools. (South Carolina News)

WA:

Vanessa Serrano tops in SW Washington regional:
Double the number of regional competitors marked this year's POL campaign. Next for Vanessa: state finals in Olympia, March 20. (Poetry Out Loud)

Ellen Wise takes Northwest Washington Regional Final:
The Stanwood High School student heads for statewide competition in March. (goskagit.com)

Get Lit! Programs hosts regional competition in Spokane, Feb. 5:
The Early Bird Room of the Davenport Hotel is the venue for the 6:30 PM contest, which will send two to the state finals. (Get Lit!)

WV:

Actor Chris Sarandon to emcee state finals, March 6:
The Beckley native returns for the third year. (The Charleston Gazette)

State finals set for Saturday, March 6:
West Virginia Division of Culture and History and the West Virginia Commission on the Arts to host the event at 2 p.m. in the Norman L. Fagan West Virginia State Theater of the Culture Center, State Capitol Complex in Charleston. (The Herald Dispatch)

State finals March 6 at the Culture Center in Charleston:
Actor Chris Sarandon to emcee; Nikki Giovanni, the writer, poet, educator and activist, to be guest speaker at the free event, open to all. (Gazette-Mail)