Three Poetry Out Loud regional semi-final competitions have been held this February to determine who will compete in the Nebraska state finals event. Nebraskans for the Arts is our agency's valued partner and co-host of all of the regional competitions. All events are free of charge and open to the public. Please join us at the upcoming state finals competition in Lincoln and support our talented young performers.

Poetry Out Loud Regional Competition Results
The first regional competition was held at the Museum of Nebraska Art in Kearney on Sunday, February 12. The event was emceed by Travis Hedge Coke, and judges included Jane Teply, Janet Rose, Bill Gilbreath and Lindsey Ring. Students from ten schools competed, and five were selected to advance to the state final competition. Schools represented at the Kearney event include:

Arthur County H.S., Arthur
Centura H.S., Cairo
Ewing Public School
St. Cecilia H.S, Hastings
Hershey H.S.
Minatare H.S.
Parkview Christian School, Lincoln
Seward H.S.
St. Patrick Senior H.S., North Platte
Thayer Central Community Schools, Hebron

The five students selected for state finals are:

Mary Hawk, 12th grade, Ewing
Laura Phillips, 11th grade, Minatare
Carleigh Schuman, 11th grade, Parkview Christian
Adam Pasquinelly, 11th grade, St. Patrick’s
Russell Heitmann, 11th grade, Thayer Central

A 2nd regional competition was held on February 15 at the Norfolk Arts Center. Judges included Adam Peterson, Diane Blinn, Lonn Atwood and Jean Dederman. It was Emceed by Barbara Schmitz. Schools represented include:

Burwell H.S.
Cedar Catholic H.S. (Hartington)
Loup County H.S. (Taylor)
St. Edward H.S.
Skutt Catholic H.S. (Omaha)
Wheeler Central H.S. (Bartlett)

The three students selected for state finals are:

Tyler Mares, 11th grade, Burwell
Elizabeth Rembert, 9th grade, Cedar Catholic
Grace Eliason, 10th grade, Skutt

The 3rd regional competition was held at 2pm Saturday, February 18 at Joslyn Art Museum in Omaha. Schools represented include:

Brownell Talbot School (Omaha)
Integrated Learning Program Omaha)
Lincoln Southeast H.S.
South Sioux City H.S.
Tekamah-Herman H.S
Wahoo H.S.

The three students selected for state finals are:

Ryan Segur, Grade 11, Brownell Talbot School, Omaha
Taylor Gillen, Grade 11, Lincoln Southeast H.S.
Sesly Lorincz, Grade 11, Wahoo H.S.