Allied Arts Council hosts the northwest Missouri regional Poetry Out Loud competition on Wednesday, February 19 at 4:30 p.m. at the St. Joseph School District Board Room, 925 Felix, St. Joseph, MO.  This marks the eighth year that the Council has hosted the event which is free and open to the public.

Competition winners from Lathrop R-II and St. Joseph Home schools will recite three poems each.

Poetry Out Loud encourages high school students to learn about great poetry through memorization, performance, and competition. 

 On March 13 the regional winners travel to Jefferson City for the Missouri State Championship. The winner receives a plaque, traveling trophy and all-expense-paid trip (with two parents or chaperones) to Washington, DC for the national finals taking place in April. A total of $50,000 in scholarships and school stipends will be awarded at the national finals, and the national champion receives a $20,000 college scholarship. For more information about the national competition, visit www.poetryoutloud.org.