Georgia Council for the Arts
03/23/2021 | Press release | Archived content
DeKalb School of the Arts Student Wins 2021 Poetry Out Loud State Championship
ATLANTA, March 23, 2021 - The Georgia Department of Economic Development's Georgia Council for the Arts (GCA) this week announced that Karma Hudnall, a junior at DeKalb School of the Arts in Avondale Estates, Georgia, took home first prize in the 2021 Poetry Out Loud state championship. A senior at Etowah High School in Woodstock, Sophia Stewart, was runner-up in the competition.
This year, regional contests were virtual. The final spring competition was conducted through livestreaming video by the nine students participating in the state finals. The state champion will go on to represent Georgia at the national finals, which will also be held virtually through recorded video this year.
"Poetry Out Loud is an excellent opportunity for high school students to gain confidence not only in public speaking, but in expressing themselves clearly and confidently," said Tina Lilly, executive director of Georgia Council for the Arts. "These skills will be invaluable for participants as they go through college or compete for jobs."
Poetry Out Loud is a national program sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the Poetry Foundation, which encourages high school students to learn about poetry through memorization and recitation of the written word. Georgia's Poetry Out Loud champion will receive $200 from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). Hudnall's school will also be presented with a $500 certificate that will go toward new books. As Poetry Out Loud runner-up, Stewart will receive $100 from the NEA, and $200 for new books for her school.
"My experience winning the State finals was very amazing," said Hudnall. "I didn't notice how much I loved poetry until the competition widened my perspective. It helped me discover more poems that I now love and brought back my excitement for portraying the emotions as best as I can."
Started in 2005 as a pilot program in Chicago and Washington, D.C., Poetry Out Loud has grown to involve millions of students from across the country.
This is the 13th year that the Atlanta History Center has been selected by Georgia Council for the Arts to coordinate the state's Poetry Out Loud competition. Georgia's 2021 participation included:
- 61 schools in 39 counties
- 5,688 students
- 340 teachers
"Georgia Poetry Out Loud has had a great year despite the pandemic and all of the challenges it presented," said Emily Cobb, Poetry Out Loud state coordinator at Atlanta History Center. "This year, Georgia students have been able to continue their drive and love for poetry."
If your school would like to participate in Poetry Out Loud next year, please contact Emily Cobb at [email protected]or call 404.814.4017. For more information about Poetry Out Loud, please visit: atlantahistorycenter.com/for-schools/educator-resources/poetry-out-loud.
About Georgia Council of Arts
Georgia Council for the Arts (GCA) is a division of the Georgia Department of Economic Development whose mission is to cultivate the growth of vibrant, thriving Georgia communities through the arts. GCA provides grant funding, programs and services statewide that support the vital arts industry, preserve the state's cultural heritage, increase tourism and nurture strong communities. Funding for Georgia Council for the Arts is provided by appropriations from the Georgia General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts. gaarts.org
About Atlanta History Center and Margaret Mitchell House
Founded in 1926, Atlanta History Center is an all-inclusive, 33-acre destination featuring the Atlanta History Museum, one of the nation's largest history museums, including the new Cyclorama: The Big Picture experience; three historic houses-the 1920s Swan House, the 1860s Smith Family Farm, and the 1830s Wood Family Cabin; Goizueta Gardens; Kenan Research Center; the Grand Overlook event space; a museum shop; Souper Jenny café; and BRASH coffee shop. In addition, Atlanta History Center welcomes visitors to Margaret Mitchell House at Atlanta History Center Midtown. For more information, please visit AtlantaHistoryCenter.com.