Hiba Loukssi Wins State Competition and Advances to Poetry Out Loud National Event
Posted on 03/13/2023
On Friday, March 10, Hiba Loukssi won the 2023 Ohio State Finals for Poetry Out Loud! Hiba is a senior at Xenia High School and will be the one student representing Ohio at the 2023 National Poetry Out Loud contest.
As the state winner, she was awarded $200 and an original piece of art by a Cleveland artist with a poem by Ohioana poet Marcus Jackson. She also earned $500 for Xenia High School and a plaque for the school.
The national competition will take place May 9-10 in Washington, D.C., and Hiba will be competing for the $20,000 prize.
About Poetry Out Loud
Poetry Out Loud (POL) encourages students to learn about great poetry through memorization and recitation. This program helps students master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn about literary heritage and contemporary life. Created by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation, Poetry Out Loud is administered in partnership with the State Arts Agencies of all 50 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico.