Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Johnson Ailima, a 12th Grade student at Fa’asao Marist High School in Lepuapua, American Samoa was recently named the 2026 American Samoa Poetry Out Loud champion, one of more than 130,000 students to compete in this poetry recitation competition across the nation this year. They are now advancing to the Poetry Out Loud National Semifinals in Washington, DC on Tuesday, April 28, which will be available through a one-time-only webcast at arts.gov/Poetry-Out-Loud.

Nine students will advance from the semifinals to the Poetry Out Loud National Finals the next day, on Wednesday, April 29, to compete for the title of national champion and a $20,000 grand prize. In total, $50,000 in awards and school stipends will be distributed as part of the national finals.

After months of competitions in classrooms and communities nationwide, the 2026 Poetry Out Loud National Finals will take place April 28– 29 in Washington, DC. Reciting poetry from an anthology that celebrates historic American voices in recognition of America’s 250th anniversary, state and jurisdictional champions will compete for the national champion title and a $20,000 cash prize.

Poetry Out Loud is a dynamic poetry recitation competition for high school students that is designed to improve public speaking skills, build confidence, and teach about literary history. Poetry Out Loud is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with participating state and jurisdictional arts agencies and administered by Mid Atlantic Arts.

On Tuesday, April 28, participating state and jurisdictional champions will compete in the national semifinals. Nine finalists will then proceed to the finals on Wednesday, April 29, hosted by actress Justine “Icy” Moral, who currently stars as Martha Jefferson in Ford Theatre’s production of 1776. The semifinals and finals will take place at the Lisner Auditorium at the George Washington University

“Poetry Out Loud helps students discover the power of language while building confidence, communication skills, and a deeper connection to literature,” said National Endowment for the Arts Chairman Mary Anne Carter. “We are thrilled to welcome our champions to Washington, DC, during America’s 250th birthday. In reciting works that helped shape our nation’s history, they are honoring the past while developing the skills to shape the future.”

A total of $50,000 in cash prizes and school or organizational stipends will be awarded at the national finals, including $20,000 for the Poetry Out Loud National Champion, and $10,000 and $5,000 for the second- and third-place finalists, respectively. Mid Atlantic Arts administers the National Finals and all aspects of the monetary prizes awarded for Poetry Out Loud.