Ohio Poetry Out Loud Announces Semifinals February 25, 2016 COLUMBUS, Ohio—The Ohio Arts Council (OAC) will host the first annual Poetry Out Loud (POL) semifinal contests in three Ohio cities in late February and early March. Formerly, POL school champions went directly to the state finals. This year students' next level of competition will be an assigned regional semifinal contest. Holding semifinal contests increases accessibility for Ohio schools by shortening travel distance and reducing the daylong state finals to an afternoon event. Dayton Semifinal Monday, Feb. 29, 4:30 p.m. Wright-Dunbar Interpretive Center Theater, Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park Cleveland Semifinal Thursday, March 3, 4:30 p.m. Louis Stokes Wing Auditorium, Cleveland Public Library Columbus Semifinal Saturday, March 5, 1:30 p.m. Arthur C. Johnson Auditorium, Ohio History Connection State Finals Saturday, March 19, 1:30 p.m. WOSU TV Station, COSI – Center of Science and Industry Semifinals feature upgraded contest venues and an impressive judge roster that includes: David Hassler, Wick Poetry Center director; Karen Maner, Culture Works; Alan Bomar Jones, actor; Professor Ann Hall, Ohio Dominican University; Nancy Kangas, poet, artist, and educator; and Caira Lee, 2011 Ohio POL state champion. The Ohio POL semifinals and state finals are presented in partnership with Thurber House, Ohioana Library, Ohio Center for the Book, and Tuesday Musical Association. If you are interested in becoming a POL partner please contact Chiquita Mullins Lee, Arts Learning Coordinator: chiquita.mullinslee@oac.ohio.gov. 2016 Ohio Poetry Out Loud Participating High Schools Archbishop Alter High School, Kettering Archbishop Hoban High School, Akron Beechcroft High School, Columbus Bloom Carroll High School, Carroll Buckeye Local High School, Rayland Canal Winchester High School, Canal Winchester Catholic Central High School, Springfield Centennial High School, Columbus Central High School, Columbus Cleveland Heights High School, Cleveland Heights Chaminade-Julienne High School, Dayton Columbus Alternative High School, Columbus Columbus School for Girls, Columbus Columbus Torah Academy, Columbus Cristo Rey Columbus High School, Columbus JFK-Eagle Academy, Garfield Heights Ellet High School, Akron Gahanna Christian Academy, Gahanna John Glenn High School, New Concord Kenton Ridge High School, Springfield Kettering Fairmont High School, Kettering Lima Central Catholic High School, Lima Linden McKinley High School, Columbus Logan High School, Logan Madison Comprehensive High School, Mansfield Medina High School, Medina Millersport High School, Millersport Montessori High School at University Circle, Cleveland Mother of Mercy High School, Cincinnati Newark Digital Academy, Newark Ohio Virtual Academy, Maumee Olentangy High School, Lewis Center Promise Academy, Cleveland Purcell Marian High School, Cincinnati St. Edward High School, Lakewood St. Francis DeSales High School, Columbus Seton High School, Cincinnati Shaker Heights High School, Shaker Heights Shaw High School, East Cleveland Springfield High School, Springfield Summit JDC, Akron Tallmadge High School, Tallmadge The Lyceum, South Euclid Toledo Early College High School, Toledo Upper Arlington High School, Upper Arlington Vantage Career Center, Van Wert Western Reserve Academy, Hudson Westerville Central High School, Westerville Whetstone High School, Columbus ABOUT POETRY OUT LOUD The nation's largest youth poetry recitation competition is presented by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation in partnership with the Ohio Arts Council. The Poetry Out Loud program encourages high school students to learn about great poetry, master public-speaking skills, build self-confidence, and study their literary heritage. ABOUT THE OHIO ARTS COUNCIL The Ohio Arts Council is a state agency that funds and supports quality arts experiences to strengthen Ohio communities culturally, educationally, and economically. Connect with the OAC on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, or visit our website at oac.ohio.gov. ABOUT THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS The National Endowment for the Arts is a public agency dedicated to supporting excellence in the arts—both new and established—bringing the arts to all Americans, and providing leadership in arts education. ###