University High School freshman Sarah Naidu (’21) is one of just 18 Indiana students who will compete in the Poetry Out Loud state finals on Saturday, Feb. 17 at 9 a.m. at the Indiana State Library.
Naidu advanced to the state finals by winning the University High School competition in January. She has prepared three poems to perform on Saturday.
“American Smooth,” a poem by Rita Dove, and “Epitaph” by Katherine Philips are two poems she will perform in the first round. If she advances to the second round, she will also perform “Discrimination” by Kenneth Rexroth.
The National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation are supporting partners to Poetry Out Loud, a free high school program that encourages the nation’s youth to learn about great poetry through memorization and recitation. This program helps high school students master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, learn about their literary heritage and compete for college scholarship funding.
The winner of Saturday’s state-wide competition will win $200, $500 for their school, and the chance to represent Indiana and compete for scholarship funds at the Poetry Out Loud National Finals in April.