Tucker Dowler and Leah Stallcup.
The Arkansas Arts Council is proud to announce Tucker Dowler, a senior at Sheridan High School, as this year’s Arkansas Poetry Out Loud state champion.
Poetry Out Loud is the state’s only poetry recitation competition for high school students. Students compete at the school, district, and state levels before going to the national stage in Washington, D.C.
As the state champion, he has the opportunity to travel to Washington, D.C., where he will represent Arkansas in the National Poetry Out Loud competition between April 30 and May 2. He could earn up to $20,000.
Leah Stallcup, a sophomore at Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts, earned the alternative champion title during the Arkansas Poetry Out Loud event. Stallcup, of Fayetteville, came to ASMSA to further her education and develop her passions. She aspires to become a veterinarian and enjoys studying chemistry and biology. She loves poetry, writing, and making music. As the state alternate, Stallcup earned a $300 cash stipend for ASMA to purchase poetry materials.
Arkansas Poetry Out Loud, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts, Poetry Foundation, and the Arkansas Arts Council, is a free, poetry program for high school students. The program encourages the nation’s youth to learn about poetry through memorization and recitation and helps students build self-confidence, develop public speaking skills, and learn literary history. For more information about the program, email matt.boyce@arkansas.gov or visit www.arkansasarts.org.
