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NEWS RELEASE   |   FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   |   February 25, 2026

VIEW THIS RELEASE ONLINE:  https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/NDCOTA/bulletins/40b619a

ND Council on the Arts announces results of 2026 Poetry Out Loud State Championship

ND POL 2026 finalists from left to right: 4th-Madison Vick, Bismarck H.S.; 2nd-Adalyn Picken, Wahpeton H.S.; 1st-Aspen Geist, Wyndmere Public School; 3rd-DeLainis Kroh, Mandan H.S.; 5th-Sawyer Wilhelmi, Starkweather School

BISMARCK, ND - North Dakota Council on the Arts (NDCA) is pleased to announce Aspen Geist of Wyndmere Public School is the 2026 State Champion and first place winner of the North Dakota State Poetry Out Loud® (POL) contest. Adalyn Picken of Wahpeton High School received second place honors with third place awarded to DeLainis Kroh of Mandan High School.

Master of Ceremonies Alicia Hegland-Thorpe, Poetry Out Loud Coordinator Matthew Anderson, POL Assistant Coordinator Brenna Lahren, and NDCA Executive Director Jessica Christy presented the awards to the participants. All contestants received a swag bag stuffed full of goodies, which included a certificate of participation. First place winner Aspen Geist received a trophy, a medallion, $200, and an all-expenses-paid trip (with an adult chaperone) to Washington, DC, April 27-29, to compete at the National Finals. Wyndmere Public School received a $500 stipend for the purchase of poetry books and the honor of displaying the POL Traveling Trophy. Second place winner Adalyn Picken received a trophy, a medallion, and $100, with Wahpeton High School receiving $200.

The 2026 North Dakota state competition judges included: Dr. Cheryl Ann Kary (Haunkuotawin), Executive Director, Sacred Pipe Resource Center; Anna Paige, award-winning journalist, poet, and co-founder of Young Poets; Bill Thomas, retired Director of Radio for 25 years, Prairie Public; Michael Tomanek, Associate Professor of English, Bismarck State College; and accuracy judge Robin Bosch, retired North Dakota State employee for 27 years, including Fiscal Officer and Grants Administrator, NDCA. Entertainment during the event included DJ music by David Diebel of D&N Cinematics and a special Keynote presentation by culture bearer Prairie Rose Seminole, enrolled member of the MHA Nation.

What is Poetry Out Loud?

Poetry Out Loud is a national program supported by the National Endowment for the Arts that inspires students to engage with poetry through performance and interpretation. This year’s program carries special significance: in recognition of America’s 250th anniversary, the 2025–2026 POL season highlights poems that celebrate the rich tapestry of American history and culture.

The program starts at the local level with a school or participating organization. Winners then may advance to a regional and/or state competition, and ultimately to the national finals. Since the program began in 2005, more than 4.5 million students and 81,000 teachers from 20,000 schools across the U.S. have participated in Poetry Out Loud. At the national finals, a total of $50,000 is awarded annually including a $20,000 award for the National Champion, $10,000 for 2nd place, $5,000 for 3rd place, and $1,000 for 4th-12th places. 

For further information on national Poetry Out Loud, visit www.poetryoutloud.org or contact North Dakota's POL Coordinator Matthew Anderson at (701) 328-7593 or mabanderson@nd.gov. 

For more information or to schedule interviews, contact NDCA Public Info Officer Rhea Beto

701.328.7594 I rbeto@nd.gov

North Dakota Council on the Arts is the state agency responsible for the support, development, and preservation of the arts throughout North Dakota and is funded by the state legislature and the National Endowment for the Arts.