National Recitation Contest

Celebrating 20 years of Poetry Out Loud

Each year, the SCAC joins national partners to bring Poetry Out Loud® to South Carolina high school students.

Statewide arts partners like the SCAC help put Poetry Out Loud in all 50 states, American Samoa, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

In South Carolina, the SCAC blends the traditional, in-person competition structure with a more inclusive virtual competitions allowing any high school student to compete. Schools who registered held in-person competitions locally while individual students who registered performed virtually in front of judges who named finalists.

The program seeks to foster the next generation of literary readers by capitalizing on the latest trends in poetry—recitation and performance. Visit the Poetry Out Loud website by clicking here.

In 2018, Janae Claxton of Charleston was the first South Carolina student to win the National Poetry Out Loud competition!

Congrats to the 2024/2025 state finalists

And champion Faith Angeline Ongaria

The three S.C. Poetry Out Loud winners pose holding their certificates. Samuel Kitchen is a tall, white young man with strawberry blond hair. at left. Faith Angeline Ongaria is a dark haired young lady who presents as Latina. Eden Withersoon is a dark-haired, darker-skinned young lady who presents as black.

(l-r) Samuel Kitchen, Faith Angeline Ongaria, Eden Witherspoon. SCAC image. Click to enlarge.

Six finalists competed in Columbia March 8 for the title of state champion:

  • Faith Angeline Ongaria (Wilson High School) – Winner
  • Samuel Kitchen (Spartanburg Day School) – First runner-up
  • Eden Witherspoon (Lancaster High School) – Second runner-up
  • Abhirami Balachandran (Calvary Christian School)
  • Ella McCall (Ashley Hall)
  • Shelby Miller (Charleston County School for the Arts)
  • Abreá Spears (Goose Creek High School)

Poetry Out Loud 2024/2025

Two tracks. One competition.

To best serve as many South Carolina students as possible, Poetry Out Loud offers school/organization registration (for schools or organizations and their students, in-person competitions) and individual student registration (a live virtual competition) for those whose school/organization is not participating or are homeschooled.

20 years

The SCAC salutes Poetry Out Loud on its 20th anniversary in the 2024/2025 school year!

Additional information

Headshot of Amanda NoyesI’m here to help!

For assistance or more information, please contact Arts Learning & Accessibility Director Amanda Noyes (803.734.8675 | anoyes@arts.sc.gov).