Nv Poetry Out Loud 2026

Inspiring High School Students Through the Spoken Word

Celebrating the Tapestry of American Stories

The 21st annual Nevada Poetry Out Loud state competition convened in person on March 7, 2026 on the University of Nevada, Reno campus at the Joe Crowley Student Union theater. Participants from six counties competed to represent Nevada at the National Finals in Washington, D.C. This year’s focus was America250 in commemoration of the 250th signing of the Declaration of Independence, featuring poems commemorating the rich tapestry of American stories.

About poetry out loud

LYON COUNTY

Mari Basaca Fuentes

Mari Basaca Fuentes is a 15-year-old sophomore attending Yerington High School. She is an active member of her community and finds great importance in giving back. She takes pride in staying involved, supporting school activities, and helping wherever she can. Over the past year, she discovered a passion for poetry that has become a big part of who she is. What began as simply trying something new quickly turned into something she truly loves. She fell in love with how poetry allows you to express yourself, your thoughts, emotions, and experiences, in ways that ordinary words sometimes cannot. Being able to recite poems has helped her grow, understand herself better, find ways to express her emotions, and find her voice. As she continues through high school, she hopes to remain involved in her community while continuing to develop her love for poetry and self expression. She would like to thank her mom, Consuelo Fuentes, her dad Francisco Basaca, and her English teachers Amanda Aldridge and Cara Childs.

Meet the Finalists

Carson City

Makala Heyder

Makala Heyder has never seen an idle minute. She fills her time with books, soccer, swimming, Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps, speech and debate, among other activities. She strives to reach the highest level in anything she does. She does this because she wishes to never let the sacrifices of those who came before her go to waste. She was taught by her parents to never quiet her voice and to speak up about the things she believes in. She strives to be like the fierce women she reads about –– bold in action, unstoppable in voice, and strong in every word she speaks. Makala would like to thank her mom, Katie Heyder, her dad, Steve Heyder, and her younger sisters Sydney and Aliyah Heyder.

Clark County

Sara Wang

Sara Wang is a freshman at Bishop Gorman High School. She loves writing and storytelling, and especially enjoys exploring themes related to environment and identity. In her free time, she likes photography, playing guitar, and scrapbooking. Wang would like to thank her mom, Claudia Wang, her dad, David Wang, and sister, Katie Wang.

Douglas County

Cash Bourquin

Cash Bourquin is a 17-year-old filmmaker and actor. He got his start in acting after watching “Pee-wee’s Big Adventure.” Since then, he’s been in roles ranging from Prince Hamlet to Batman. It wasn’t until he got the role of Prince Hamlet, he became enamored with the art of reading poetry. His favorite part of reading poetry is finding the poet’s true emotion and intent behind the writing and turning it into a performance. Bourquin would like to thank his mom, Camille Bourquin, his dad, Cole Bourquin, his middle school English teacher Elizabeth Leiknes, and drama teacher Anna Berbary.

Storey County

Bailey McClain

Bailey was raised around words and books, and she always had an interest in them. English has always been her favorite class; the one in which she could express herself best. Her third-grade class hosted a poetry contest once before, and she participated. McClain remembered ever since then, realizing how beautiful poetry is, and how it can add detail to things in such a unique way. She’s deeply interested in horses and farming, hence the poem selections. She has been riding horses for as long as she can remember; they also hold a deep importance in her life.She would like to thank her English teacher Lindsey Wells, her mom, Cassie McClain, her dad William McClain, and her friend Isabella Lopez-Linde.

Washoe County

Mia Gonzalez

Mia has always wanted to use her skills for something she loved and now she has the opportunity. All of her life, she has been creative. As a competitive dancer, a cellist, and now starting an acting career. She has always loved the emotional part of it. She was searching for something to help her express herself and when she found Poetry Out Loud, it was incredible! All of her life, she’s been searching for an opportunity to feel like she belongs and now she finally has. She would like to thank her mom, Micaela Piper, and English teacher Georjan Kavanaugh-Edgecomb.

District Finals

Carson City
Feb. 6 at Carson High School at 12:45 p.m.

Carson City Winners

Makala Heyder (First Place)
Claire Dillon (Second Place)
Clark Hoffman (Third Place)

Lyon

Feb. 4, 2026 at Jeanne Dini Cultural Center at 3:30 p.m.

Lyon Winners

Mari Basaca Fuentes (First Place)
Saleen Felan (Second Place)
Daniel Mercado (Third Place)

Clark

Feb. 3 at West Charleston Library at 3:30 p.m.

Clark Winners

Sara Wang (First Place)
Ai Kang (Second Place)
Khloe Ohnstad (Third Place)

Storey

Feb. 5, 2026 at Virginia City High School at 1 p.m.

Story Winners

Bailey McClain (First Place)
Henry Enrst (Second Place)
Daniel Costell (Third Place)

Douglas

Feb. 6 at Douglas High School at 3 p.m.

Douglas Winners

Cash Bourquin (First Place)
Violet Pierson (Second Place)
Nathan Bertucci (Third Place)

Washoe

Feb. 6, 2026 at Holland Project at 5:30 p.m.

Washoe Winners

Mia Gonzalez (First Place)
Brynn Davenport (Second Place)
Ava Arrington (Third Place)

Focusing on our rich literary heritage and contemporary life through memorization and performance of classic and contemporary poetry, Nevada Poetry Out Loud is a program of the Nevada Arts Council, presented in partnership with National Endowment for the Arts, Nevada Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Nevada Department of Education, and Nevada school districts.