16-Year-Old Wins Regional Poetry Recitation Contest

Sylvie Terjesen to advance to state finals of Poetry Out Loud competition

Feb. 4, 2026 at 9:15pm

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Sylvie Terjesen, a 16-year-old junior at Canyon Crest Academy, won the regional Poetry Out Loud recitation competition in San Diego. She will now advance to the statewide finals in Sacramento next month, where the winner will compete for the national title in April.

Why it matters

The Poetry Out Loud competition encourages high school students to learn about great poetry through memorization and recitation. Terjesen's win highlights the continued importance of poetry in American culture and the ability of young people to engage deeply with literary works.

The details

Terjesen recited two poems - "Ecology" by Jack Collom and "The Robots Are Coming" by Kyle Dargan - in the judged rounds of the competition. She was evaluated on factors like physical presence, dramatic appropriateness, understanding, and voice. In an optional third round, she also read a poem she wrote herself. Terjesen focused on following the punctuation in the poems to stay true to the writer's intentions, believing that "what really makes poetry impactful sometimes isn't the words but the spaces between them."

  • The regional Poetry Out Loud competition took place on Tuesday, February 3, 2026 in San Diego.
  • Terjesen will compete in the statewide Poetry Out Loud finals in Sacramento next month.
  • The national Poetry Out Loud competition will be held in April in Washington, D.C.

The players

Sylvie Terjesen

A 16-year-old junior at Canyon Crest Academy who won the regional Poetry Out Loud competition in San Diego.

Poetry Out Loud

A national poetry recitation competition for high school students, run by the National Poetry Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, the California Arts Council, and Write Out Loud.

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What they’re saying

“What really makes poetry impactful sometimes isn't the words but the spaces between them.”

— Sylvie Terjesen

What’s next

Terjesen will compete in the statewide Poetry Out Loud finals in Sacramento next month. The winner of the state competition will advance to the national Poetry Out Loud competition in April in Washington, D.C.

The takeaway

The Poetry Out Loud competition continues to inspire high school students like Sylvie Terjesen to engage deeply with poetry and hone their recitation skills. Terjesen's win highlights the enduring power of poetry to connect with young audiences and the importance of providing platforms for students to showcase their literary talents.