Poetry Out Loud
a California Arts Council Initiative
POETRY OUT LOUD "COUNTY FINAL COMPETITION" 2025
Poetry Out Loud—presented in partnership with the California Arts Council, National Endowment for the Arts, and Poetry Foundation—is a national arts education program that encourages the study of great poetry by offering free educational materials and a dynamic recitation competition for high school students across the country. Since the program began in 2005, more than four million students across the country have participated in Poetry Out Loud.
“All of the student competitors demonstrate their openness to the power of poetry and their commitment to developing skills that allow them to share that power with those around them,” said Michelle T. Boone, Poetry Foundation president. “The young people involved in Poetry Out Loud are remarkable, and we are honored to be a part of this program.”
On December 12 in Hayfork and January 16 in Weaverville, a dozen high school students from Hayfork High School, TrinityHigh School, and RISE Academy participated in their respective school-level Poetry Out Loud recitation contest to determine who would go on to the county-wide championship on Sunday, January 26 at the Trinity Alps Performing Arts Center, 3pm.
Student teams spent weeks memorizing and practicing reciting their selected poems with their coaches, preparing for the moment when they would be center stage. The Trinity County winning student this year was Trinity High School freshman Bella Comiskey, and second place winner was Trinity High School senior Isis Kees.
"Why I do these poems, it brings a side of humanity that we all need to face, that we all need to discover for ourselves. This has all just been great, I have to say, I have come a long way since my sophomore year, and I can thankfully say, that even if I didn’t win, I won something, I’ve grown into the person that I want to be, “ said Ms. Kees.
I would like to thank my English teacher, she kind of forced me into this but I am really, really grateful, because I know I wouldn’t have done this on my own. I actually am very afraid of public speaking. Just knowing that my team is back there supporting me, I know that they are always going to be there when I come back, clapping and trying to be honest," said Ms. Comiskey.
Poetry Out Loud—presented in partnership with the California Arts Council, National Endowment for the Arts, and Poetry Foundation—is a national arts education program that encourages the study of great poetry by offering free educational materials and a dynamic recitation competition for high school students across the country. Since the program began in 2005, more than four million students across the country have participated in Poetry Out Loud.
“All of the student competitors demonstrate their openness to the power of poetry and their commitment to developing skills that allow them to share that power with those around them,” said Michelle T. Boone, Poetry Foundation president. “The young people involved in Poetry Out Loud are remarkable, and we are honored to be a part of this program.”
On December 12 in Hayfork and January 16 in Weaverville, a dozen high school students from Hayfork High School, TrinityHigh School, and RISE Academy participated in their respective school-level Poetry Out Loud recitation contest to determine who would go on to the county-wide championship on Sunday, January 26 at the Trinity Alps Performing Arts Center, 3pm.
Student teams spent weeks memorizing and practicing reciting their selected poems with their coaches, preparing for the moment when they would be center stage. The Trinity County winning student this year was Trinity High School freshman Bella Comiskey, and second place winner was Trinity High School senior Isis Kees.
"Why I do these poems, it brings a side of humanity that we all need to face, that we all need to discover for ourselves. This has all just been great, I have to say, I have come a long way since my sophomore year, and I can thankfully say, that even if I didn’t win, I won something, I’ve grown into the person that I want to be, “ said Ms. Kees.
I would like to thank my English teacher, she kind of forced me into this but I am really, really grateful, because I know I wouldn’t have done this on my own. I actually am very afraid of public speaking. Just knowing that my team is back there supporting me, I know that they are always going to be there when I come back, clapping and trying to be honest," said Ms. Comiskey.
