Poetry Out Loud Participants

2026 Poetry Out Loud State Finals

The New Mexico Poetry Out Loud champion, Hadas Frish, a 10th grader attending La Cueva High School in Albuquerque, NM, is headed to the Poetry Out Loud National Finals in Washington, DC, April 27 – 29, 2026. Eleven high school students from schools throughout New Mexico participated in the state finals on Sunday, March 8 at the National Hispanic Cultural Center in Albuquerque.

In addition to competing in the National Finals, Frish will receive a $200 cash prize, and her high school will receive a $500 stipend for the purchase of poetry materials. As the first runner-up, Noelle Humphreys, a 12th grader at Volcano Vista High School in Albuquerque, will receive $100, with a $200 stipend going to her school.

Poetry Out Loud 2026

We are pleased to present this year’s twelve state finalists from the 2026 New Mexico Poetry Out Loud Recitation Contest.
New Mexico Poetry Out Loud is made possible by the National Endowment for the Arts and The Poetry Foundation. It is produced and directed in New Mexico by the state arts agency New Mexico Arts, in accordance with our agreement with the Endowment.

2026 Poetry Out Loud Participants

A young woman with light colored hair pulled back in a ponytail wearing glasses
A young woman with dark long hair
A young woman with medium length brown hair
A young man with short reddish hair
A young man with glasses and bushy brown hair
A young woman with blond hair pulled tightly back
A young woman with long red hair wearing glasses
A young woman with long brown hair wearing glasses

Hadas Frish: 2026 New Mexico Poetry Out Loud Champion
Jessica Helen Lopez: Event Student Coordinator
Michelle Laflamme-Childs: Femcee
Kevin Lenkner: Program Coordinator
Joe Calderon Photography: Photos

Highlights from the 2026 Poetry Out Loud Competition:

On Stage Group with POL Banner
A group of 4 teenagers receiving an award on a stage with an advisor,
A young woman with dark hair on stage
A young woman with blonde hair and glasses on a stage
Kokomi Williams Action
A young woman wearing a hijab on stage
A young woman with red and black hair on stage
Roma Subedi Action
A young woman with brown hair on stage
A young man with redhair on stage
A young man with dark hair and glasses on stage
A young woman with blonde hair on stage
Elizabeth Nickell Action
Amaya Anderson Grid
A young woman with dark hair receiving an award
A man with a hat on, wearing a red suit with glasses and a goatee
A woman with light hair and glasses on stage
Mariachi Singer 2
MC and 1 Participant with POL Banner
A woman with dark hair on stage
Audience 1
3 members of the poetry out loud audience
5 members of the poetry out loud audience
Runner Up with Family POL Banner
Winner with Family POL Banner
4 members of the poetry out loud audience
6 members of the poetry out loud audience
4 members of the poetry out loud audience
A member of the poetry out loud audience holding a poster with an eye on it
A 2-person camera crew filming the winner of the poetry out loud competition

2025 Poetry Out Loud Participants

Headshot of a young woman.
Headshot of a young woman.
Headshot of a young woman.
Headshot of a young man.
Headshot of a young woman.
Headshot of a young woman.
Headshot of a young man.
Headshot of a young woman.
Headshot of a young man.

2024 Poetry Out Loud Participants

A young woman with dark hair.

Kaitlyn Lubega (STATE CHAMPION): UWC-USA, Montezuma

Teacher - Kate Riberio

A young woman with long hair.

Nakia Thomas (RUNNER UP): Carlsbad High School, Carlsbad

Teacher - Erin Armendarez

A young woman with long hair.

Ariana Thiel-Hadjilambrinos: La Cueva High School, Albuquerque

Teacher - Rosemary Hood

A young man with short hair.

Seth McLaughlin: V. Sue Cleveland High School, Rio Rancho

Teacher - Daniel Schneider

A young man with long hair.

Dante Salim: Volcano Vista High School, Albuquerque

Teacher - Desiree Montoya

A young woman with short hair.

Ulani Radtke: Arrowhead Park Early College High School, Las Cruces

Teacher - Kernie Zimmerman

A young woman with long hair.

Noor Kaur: Cottonwood Classical Preparatory School, Albuquerque

Teacher - Heather Blanchard

A young man with long hair.

Jasper Goldberg: Public Academy for Performing Arts, Albuquerque

Teacher - Aimee Wray

A young woman with long hair.

Sama Lilo: Albuquerque School of Excellence, Albuquerque

Teacher - Ma. Gloria M. King

Kaitlyn Lubega: 2024 New Mexico Poetry Out Loud Champion
Jessica Helen Lopez: Event Coordinator
Michelle Laflamme-Childs: Femcee
Kevin Lenkner: Program Coordinator
EmiArteFlamenco Youth de Santa: Dance
Light Benders Visuals: Photos

2023 Poetry Out Loud Participants

A young woman with long hair.

Rutendo Musharu: UWC-USA, Montezuma (STATE CHAMPION)

Teacher - Kate Riberio

A young woman with short hair.

Robin Blakeman: Public Academy for Performing Arts, Albuquerque (SECOND PLACE)

Teacher - Aimee Wray

A young woman with long hair.

Esther Heerema: Arrowhead Park Early College High School, Las Cruces

Teacher - Kernie Zimmerman

A young woman with long hair.

Livi Lent-Koop: V. Sue Cleveland High School, Rio Rancho

Teacher - Daniel Schneider

A young man with long hair.

Michael Arrellin: Wagon Mound High School, Wagon Mound

Teacher - Julie Book

A young woman with dark hair.

Rawan Lilo: Albuquerque School of Excellence, Albuquerque

Teacher - Ma. Gloria M. King

A young woman with long hair.

Finley Altman: La Cueva High School, Albuquerque

Teacher - Rosemary Hood

Rutendo Musharu: 2023 New Mexico Poetry Out Loud Champion
Jessica Helen Lopez: Event Coordinator
Michelle Laflamme-Childs: Femcee
Kevin Lenkner: Program Coordinator
Zaphica Jazz Band: Music
Pueblo Pojoaque Youth Hoop Dancers: Dance
Light Benders Visuals: Photos

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