The annual event, which includes recitation of classical poetry by high school students in grades 9-12, was held in-person on Saturday, February 4, 2023 in Pasadena.  

Participating high school student poets competed in a local competition at their school site or community organization. Local winners then submitted two poem recitations digitally, which were judged by a panel of expert judges. Asomugha recited “A song in the front yard” by Gwendolyn Brooks, and “Self-Help” by Michael Ryan. 

“I think just being on stage and reciting poems in front of a bunch of people is so fun, and I wanna go to more things like that,” said Asomugha. “I encourage students, even if you don't normally do poetry, GO! Have fun, see other people, and get to know other poets like I did.” 

Asomugha will now advance to the California state contest to compete for the National Poetry Out Loud finals in May. Last year’s LA County Poetry Out Loud winner, Mia Ronn, also from The Archer School for Girls, won the state and national competition. 

Every year since 2005, the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation work with thousands of schools and organizations nationwide to bring students a unique way to learn and love poetry. Through Poetry Out Loud, students read, memorize and recite classic and contemporary poems. This event is supported locally by the Los Angeles County Office of Education, the Los Angeles Department of Arts & Culture and the California Arts Council. For more information about the LA County Poetry Out Loud competition, visit https://poetryoutloud.lacoe.edu/. 

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About the Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE):  

The Los Angeles County Office of Education, based in Downey, is the nation’s largest regional education agency, providing a range of services and programs to support the education and wellbeing of nearly two million preschool and school-age children through an equity lens. LACOE serves the nation’s largest regional education area and intends to create a path forward for the county’s 80 K-12 districts and more than 350 charter schools that serve 1.4 million students, employ nearly 155,000 staff and manage budgets that collectively total some $18 billion.

CONTACT:

Noor Robinson, LACOE Public Information Officer, (562) 774-6907, wahba_noor@lacoe.edu.