HARRISBURG, PA — The Pennsylvania Council on the Arts (PCA) has announced Isavel Mendoza, a senior at Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts in Northampton County, as the state champion for the 2025 Poetry Out Loud (POL) competition. Mendoza emerged victorious from among 14 regional champions and will represent Pennsylvania at the national finals in Washington, D.C., set to take place from May 5-7, 2025.
Mendoza’s victory earns not only statewide recognition, but also a $200 cash prize from the Poetry Foundation and an all-expenses-paid trip to the national championship. Additionally, Mendoza’s school will receive $500 to purchase poetry materials. The national finals in Washington, D.C., will feature competitors from across the U.S., with a total of $50,000 in awards and school stipends up for grabs.
Eden Newman, a junior at Milton Hershey School in Dauphin County, was named the state runner-up. Newman received a $100 prize, while their school will be awarded $200 to enhance its poetry resources.
This year’s state competition showcased the talents of 14 students, who advanced from a pool of 2,250 participants representing 61 schools and community organizations across Pennsylvania. Participants performed three memorized poems judged on criteria such as voice, articulation, stage presence, and evidence of understanding.
Poetry Out Loud, a program created by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation, aims to engage high school students with great poetry through performance and competition. The PCA oversees the program in Pennsylvania, working closely with arts education partner organizations.
With the national finals ahead, Mendoza’s success highlights the strength of Pennsylvania’s arts education initiatives. The state now looks to see how its champion will perform on the national stage, where a celebration of literary performance and student talent will take the spotlight.
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