GORHAM HIGH SCHOOL ANNOUNCES WINNERS OF POETRY OUT LOUD COMPETITION
Gorham High School announces the winners of the school competition of Poetry Out Loud®. The student runner up is Abigail McCrillis who recited the poems O Captain! My Captain! and Poetry beautifully. Rataj Nasr brought the following poems alive for our audience: Mother to Son and Nothing to Do.
Poetry Out Loud—presented in partnership with the Maine Arts Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts—lifts poetry off the page, creating community and connection. Through this program, high school students across the country participate in a dynamic poetry recitation competition that is designed to improve their public speaking skills, help build confidence, and teach them about literary history. Since the program began in 2005, more than 4.5 million students across the country have participated in Poetry Out Loud. On January 8th, GHS students participated in the Poetry Out Loud competition in MPAC.
In recognition of America’s 250th anniversary in 2026, this year’s Poetry Out Loud program focused on poems that celebrate the rich tapestry of American history and culture. Judges evaluated student performances on criteria including voice and articulation, evidence of understanding, and accuracy.
Rataj Nasr will advance to the Southern Regional Finals POL competition on February 10th at the Public Theater in Lewiston. The state finals are in Waterville on March 10th. The Maine state champion will receive $200 and will advance to the national finals next spring in Washington, DC where $50,000 in awards and school/organizational stipends will be distributed. The representing school or organization of the Maine champion will receive $500 for the purchase of poetry materials and the first runner-up will receive $100, with $200 for their school or organization. Mid Atlantic Arts provides and administers all aspects of the monetary prizes awarded and travel arrangements for the Poetry Out Loud National Finals. Poetry Out Loud is managed in partnership with Mid Atlantic Arts.
To learn more about Maine’s Poetry Out Loud competitions, contact Program Director, Khristina Kurasz via email at khristina.kuraz@maine.gov or visit PoetryOutLoud.org.
