Oregon Champion Emma Keen To Compete On Tuesday, April 28 At Poetry Out Loud National Competition In Washington, D.C. (Photo) - 04/27/26
Salem, Oregon -- This week, Emma Keen, a junior at Oregon School for the Deaf in Salem, will represent Oregon in the 2026 Poetry Out Loud National Competition in Washington, D.C. Her itinerary also includes a meeting with Oregon Sen. Jeff Merkley and a tour of the Capitol.
Poetry Out Loud is a national recitation contest for high school students. Keen wowed judges in Salem for the state Poetry Out Loud title on March 7. She will compete in the national semifinals on Tuesday, April 28, in a group with the other Western states representatives starting at 2 p.m. PST. The competition will be live-streamed on the National Endowment for the Arts website. The link will be posted on the day of the competition.
Nine students will advance to the national finals, which will begin at 4 p.m. PST on Wednesday, April 29. It will also be live-streamed.
Closed captioning and American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation will be provided for both the Poetry Out Loud National Semifinals and Finals.
Keen, who in addition to Poetry Out Loud is the student body president, in the drama club and an avid photographer, is excited to perform in the nation’s capital. For the competition, Keen selected “Low-Tide” by Edna St. Vincent Millay, “From One Who Stays” by Amy Lowell, and “I am Like a Leaf” by Yone Noguchi.
“My connection with the poems is strong -- I feel like the poems are in my soul,” Keen said. “I’m looking forward to being in Washington D.C., seeing beautiful sights, taking good pictures and meeting new people!”
“The performing of poetry allows students to express themselves freely, create connections, and showcase the bright future of Oregon’s arts community,” said First Lady Aimee Kotek Wilson, who attended the Poetry Out Loud State Contest. “Congratulations to Emma Keen for representing Oregon in the national competition. Oregon is rooting for you!”
Poetry Out Loud is organized in Oregon by the Oregon Arts Commission in collaboration with the National Endowment for the Arts. Participants memorize and present poems, practicing public speaking skills while exploring the complexity of poetry.
A total of $50,000 in cash prizes and school or organizational stipends will be awarded at the national finals, including $20,000 for the Poetry Out Loud National Champion, and $10,000 and $5,000 for the second- and third-place finalists, respectively.
See video of Keen performing and being named Oregon’s champion by First Lady Aimee Kotek Wilson.
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The Oregon Arts Commission provides leadership, arts programs and funding for nonprofits and artists through its grants, special initiatives and services. Commissioners appointed by the Governor establish policies and provide advisory support for public investment in the arts. The Arts Commission is part of Business Oregon in recognition of the vital role the arts play in supporting the economies, educational opportunities and vibrancy of communities throughout the state.
The Oregon Arts Commission is supported with funds appropriated by the Oregon Legislature, as well as by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Oregon Cultural Trust. Learn more at artscommission.oregon.gov and follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
