University High School is proud to celebrate junior Jayda Dawn, who has been named the Indiana State Finalist of Poetry Out Loud, becoming the third student in school history to earn this distinction.
Poetry Out Loud is a national program that encourages high school students to engage deeply with literature through memorization and performance. Students select, analyze, and recite classic poems, developing skills in public speaking, interpretation, and literary analysis while building confidence and connection through the power of poetry.
After winning University’s Poetry Out Loud competition, Jayda advanced to the State Finals, which were held at the Indiana Historical Society on Saturday, Feb. 21. For Jayda’s in-person recitation, she performed “The Southland’s Charms and Freedom’s Magnitude” by Albert Allison Whitman. As part of the competition process, she also submitted two additional virtual recitations: “The Weary Blues” by Langston Hughes and “Why We Oppose Pockets for Women” by Alice Duer Miller.
Faculty sponsor Kirkland Austin reflected on Jayda’s achievement, remarking, “Proud can’t even begin to describe how I feel! Jayda chose poems with depth, complexity, and heart, then dedicated herself to improving her performance each and every time. To speak to who she is as a person, she made it a point after her win to thank me and the other teachers who helped her prepare for states. That is the quality of a state (and eventual national) champion in my book.”
Poetry Out Loud is known not only for celebrating literary excellence but also for helping students develop confidence, communication skills, and deeper engagement with the arts. National research shows that participation can strengthen academic performance, encourage empathy, and build self-assurance in public speaking and group settings.
As Indiana’s state finalist, Jayda will now travel to Washington, D.C. this spring to represent Indiana at the Poetry Out Loud National Finals, where students from across the country will compete on a national stage.
We are incredibly proud of Jayda and can’t wait to cheer her on as she takes this next step.