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Ramsey County Student Earns Award in North Dakota Poetry Championship
Sawyer Wilhelmi presented 'The Prairie Town' by Helen Santmyer in the final round of the Poetry Out Loud contest.
Published on Mar. 3, 2026
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Sawyer Wilhelmi, a senior at Starkweather Public School in Ramsey County, North Dakota, received the fifth-place award in the 2026 North Dakota State Poetry Out Loud championship held recently in Bismarck. Wilhelmi presented the poem 'The Prairie Town' by Helen Santmyer in the final round of the competition, which is sponsored by the North Dakota Council on the Arts, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation.
Why it matters
The Poetry Out Loud contest is a national program meant to inspire students to engage with poetry through performance and interpretation. This year's program holds special significance as it recognizes America's 250th anniversary and highlights poems that celebrate the rich tapestry of American history and culture.
The details
Wilhelmi also presented the poems 'Mountain Pines' by Robinson Jeffers and 'Still Life' by Carl Sandburg in the competition. He chose these poems because they felt interesting and relatable to him as a student from a small town. Wilhelmi's English teacher, Rebecca Kingsley, has been an important influence in his participation in the Poetry Out Loud contest, helping him select the poems and practice reciting them.
- The North Dakota State Poetry Out Loud championship was held recently on February 23, 2026.
- Wilhelmi also competed in the contest last year and received a third-place award.
The players
Sawyer Wilhelmi
A senior at Starkweather Public School in Ramsey County, North Dakota, who received the fifth-place award in the 2026 North Dakota State Poetry Out Loud championship.
Rebecca Kingsley
An English teacher at Starkweather Public School who has been an important influence in Wilhelmi's participation in the Poetry Out Loud contest, helping him select the poems and practice reciting them.
Jessica Christy
The executive director of the North Dakota Council on the Arts, who presented the awards at the North Dakota State Poetry Out Loud contest.
Aspen Geist
The first-place winner from Wyndmere Public School in the North Dakota State Poetry Out Loud contest.
Adalyn Picken
The second-place winner from Wahpeton High School in the North Dakota State Poetry Out Loud contest.
What they’re saying
“They felt interesting to me and relatable, because I'm from a small town.”
— Sawyer Wilhelmi (grandforksherald.com)
“Poetry is something I enjoy on my own time.”
— Sawyer Wilhelmi (grandforksherald.com)
What’s next
After high school graduation, Sawyer Wilhelmi is planning to pursue a business administration degree at Lake Region State College.
The takeaway
The Poetry Out Loud contest encourages students to engage with poetry through performance and interpretation, highlighting poems that celebrate the rich history and culture of America. Sawyer Wilhelmi's participation and award demonstrate the impact of the program in inspiring students from small towns to connect with poetry.
