S.C. Arts Commission Announces Eight Competitors for Poetry Out Loud State Finals

Press Release

Eight South Carolina high school students will compete in the state finals for Poetry Out Loud—an annual, nationwide recitation contest—scheduled to be held virtually on March 6, 2021.

The S.C. Arts Commission (SCAC) coordinates Poetry Out Loud in South Carolina, partnering with the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation to bring the competition to the state’s high schools.

Rather than be completely upended like so much else in the 2020/2021 school year, Coordinator Bonita Peeples arranged a competition with a different structure. In lieu of class or school competitions, students in grades 9-12 were invited to submit videos to be judged in twin regional competitions.

Both regionals yielded four finalists to compete on Saturday, March 6, 2021 in the virtual state finals:

• Emily Allison (Greenville High School in Greenville)
• Meenakshi Balachandran (Calvary Christian School in Myrtle Beach)
• Simone Cory (James Island Charter School in Charleston)
• Teagan Domm (Academy Magnet High School in Charleston)
• Anna Matson (Aiken High School in Aiken)
• Pagelyn Smalls (Charleston County School of the Arts in Charleston)
• Caleb Xiao (Spartanburg Day School in Boiling Springs)
• Jazmine Vivas Young (Charleston County School of the Arts in Charleston)

Adjudicating the virtual finals will be veteran Poetry Out Loud judges Al Black, Ray McManus, Michelle Reese, and Kimberly J. Simms. Each is an accomplished poet residing in South Carolina dedicated to training the next generation of poets.

The winner of the state finals will receive a $200 prize and get to represent South Carolina in the national finals competition for the chance to win a $20,000 first prize. Cancelled last year in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic’s onset, the 202 national finals will be held but virtually. Find out more about the national competition here.

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