Pol Competitions
Inspiring High School Students Through the Spoken Word
Nevada Poetry Out Loud
Since 2006, the Nevada Arts Council has been inspiring students through Nevada Poetry Out Loud. Below are the results from past contests.
2025 Nevada Poetry Out Loud Program
The 20th annual Nevada Poetry Out Loud state competition convened in person on Saturday, March 15, 2025, at the Joe Crowley Student Union Theater at the University of Nevada, Reno.
Kyara Hernandez-Duarte of Elko County represented the state at the National Finals in Washington, D.C. The other finalists included Rayann Hijazi of Washoe County and Mari Basaca Fuentes of Lyon County.
2024 Nevada Poetry Out Loud Program
The 19th annual Nevada Poetry Out Loud state competition convened in person on Saturday, March 9, 2024, at the Pioneer Center for Performing Arts in Reno, Nevada.
Rayann Hijazi of Washoe County represented the state at the National Finals in Washington, D.C. The other finalists included Nasia Perkins of Carson City and Kyara Hernandez-Duarte of Elko County.
2023 Nevada Poetry Out Loud Program
The 18th annual Nevada Poetry Out Loud state competition convened in person at the Pioneer Center for Performing Arts in Reno, Nevada, on March 11, 2023. Ashlee Sandoval, a junior at Elko High School, Elko, was named state champion and will represent Nevada at the 2023 Poetry Out Loud national finals competition in Washington, D.C. Grace Hwang, a senior at Ed W. Clark High School, Las Vegas, placed second and Farrah Bader, a senior at Yerington High School, Yerington, placed third.
2022 Nevada Poetry Out Loud Program
The 17th annual Nevada Poetry Out Loud State Finals revel was held virtually on March 8. Eakjot Sekhorn representing Washoe County was crowned state champion, Anastasia Chevalier representing Storey County came in second place and Grace Hwang representing Clark County came in third.
2021 Nevada Poetry Out Loud Program
The 16th annual Nevada Poetry Out Loud State Finals were held on March 11. Eakjot Sekhorn representing Washoe County was crowned state champion, Anastasia Chevalier representing Storey County came in second place and Allyson Adamsen representing Clark County came in third.
2020 Nevada Poetry Out Loud Program
The 15th annual Nevada Poetry Out Loud State Finals were held on May 26. The virtual competition featured the top six poets from Nevada high schools competing for the chance to be crowned state champion. Eakjot Sekhorn representing Washoe County was crowned 2020 Nevada State Champion. Second place went to Storey County’s Anastasia Chevalier, while third place went to Douglas County’s Lara Cassity.
2019 Nevada Poetry Out Loud Program
Nine counties participated in local and semi-final competitions in the 14th Annual Nevada Poetry Out Loud Program, with 26 schools represented and more than 3,500 students engaged at the local and state levels. Vanessa Aponte, a senior at Legacy High School in North Las Vegas, is the 2019 Nevada Poetry Out Loud Champion. Aponte received a $600 scholarship, and competed for $50,000 in scholarships and school prizes at the National Finals in Washington, D.C. Sparks High School senior Noemi Valdez finished in second place and received a $450 scholarship, and Elko High School senior Mikalya de Guzman finished third and received a $350 scholarship. 2019 Nevada Poetry Out Loud Program.
2018 Nevada Poetry Out Loud Program
Grey Hunt, a senior at Yerington High School, took first place at the State Finals, receiving $500, and competed for $50,000 in scholarships and school prizes at the National Finals in Washington, D.C. Her school received $500 for the purchase of poetry books and to support literary programs. Mikayla De Guzman, a junior at Elko High School won second place and Sandra Luevano, a senior at East Career and Technical Academy (Las Vegas) took third. 2018 Nevada POL Program.
2017 Nevada Poetry Out Loud Program
Gabrielle Hunt, a Yerington High School junior, was named Nevada’s 2017 Poetry Out Loud State Champion at the 12th Annual Nevada State Finals, held in the KNPB Channel 5 studio on March 11, 2017. Elko High School junior Cache Black placed second, and Douglas County High School junior Lea Gifford finished third. 2017 NVPOL Program.
2016 Nevada Poetry Out Loud Program
Mikalya Bates, a senior at Elko High School in Elko County, was named Nevada’s 2016 Poetry Out Loud State Champion at the 11th Annual Nevada State Finals at KNPB Studios in Reno. She received $1,000, an all-expense-paid trip for her and her chaperone to attend the National Finals in Washington, D.C., and $1,000 for her school for the purchase of poetry books and/or literary programs. Gabrielle Hunt, a sophomore at Yerington High School, and Vanessa Blackwell, a senior at Douglas High School, placed second and third. 2016 NVPOL Program.
2015 Nevada Poetry Out Loud Program
Nevada Poetry Out Loud Champion Dominique Groffman traveled to Washington, D.C., at the endof April to represent the Silver State at the 2015 National Finals. The Douglas County High School senior advanced to the third round of competition in her semifinals as one of 24 regional finalists. Although Groffman did not continue on to the finals, she received a personalized plaque from the National Endowment for the Arts and Poetry Foundation. 2015 NVPOL Program.
2014 Nevada Poetry Out Loud Program
On April 29, Christian Schunke, a senior at Yerington High School, was one of 53 students who walked on stage at the Lisner Auditorium in Washington, D.C., to participate in the 2014 Poetry Out Loud National Finals. Although Christian didn’t advance to the semifinals, Nevada’s State Champion Schunke recited his poems with ease and presence. 2014 NVPOL Program.
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2013 Nevada Poetry Out Loud Program
Graciela Maya-Joseph, a senior at the Owyhee High School in Elko County, was named the Nevada State Champion and represented Nevada at the National Finals in Washington D.C. Jennifer Simon, a senior at Pahrump Valley High School in Nye County, and Ralston Pedersen, a senior at Yerington High School in Lyon County, placed second and third. 2013 NVPOL Program.
2012 Nevada Poetry Out Loud Program
Mandy Titolo a senior at the College of Southern Nevada High School West in Las Vegas, was named the Nevada State Champion and represented Nevada at the National Finals in Washington, D.C. Graciela Maya-Joseph, a sophomore at Owyhee High School in Elko County, and Jennifer Simon a junior at Pahrump Valley High School in Nye County, placed second and third respectively. 2012 NVPOL Program.
2011 Nevada Poetry Out Loud Program
Emily Orellana, a senior at Rainshadow Community Charter High School in Reno, was named the Nevada State Champion for the third year in a row, and represented Nevada at the National Finals in Washington, D.C. For the second year in a row, Orellana emerged as one of nine national finalists, receiving another $1,000 and $500 for the purchase of poetry books for her school. Sarah Jamieson, a senior at Churchill County High School won second place and Dani Cabot, a senior at the College of Southern Nevada High School West, took third. 2011 NVPOL Program
2010 Nevada Poetry Out Loud Program
Emily Orellana, a sophomore from Rainshadow Community Charter High School in Reno (center), Washoe County ,was named the Nevada State Champion for a second year in a row. 2010 NV POL Program.
2009 Nevada Poetry Out Loud Program
Emily Orellana from Rainshadow Community Charter High School in Reno (center), Washoe County, with Miss Nevada 2008, Julianna Erdesz (right) and Jill Berryman of Sierra Arts Foundation (left). 2009 NVPOL Program.
2008 Nevada Poetry Out Loud Program
Lainey Henderson of Carson High School recites “Since There is No Escape” by Sarah Teasdale to garner a position at the national competition. 2008 NVPOL Program.
2007 Nevada Poetry Out Loud Program
Jake Reid of Douglas County High School recites two poems, “The Secret of the Machines” by Rudyard Kipling and “Walking Down Park” by Nikki Giovanni. 2007 NVPOL Program.
2006 Nevada Poetry Out Loud Program
Gibran Baydoun Green Valley High School performs “Do Not Go Gentle Into the Night”by Dylan Thomas. 2006 NVPOL Program.
Nevada Arts Council Staff Assistance
Sogand Tabatabaei, Arts Learning Specialist & Poetry Out Loud State Coordinator (North)
Regan Margetts, Arts Learning Specialist & Poetry Out Loud State Coordinator (South)
