Missouri Arts Council announces poetry competition

The Missouri Arts Council will hold a statewide "Poetry Out Loud" competition for high school students, part of a national contest to encourage students to learn about great poetry through memorization, performance and competition.

This year the competition in Missouri will expand to 70 high schools. The registration deadline is today, organizers said.

Starting in January, schools will participate in classroom and schoolwide contests. In late February, each school's champion will advance to one of seven regional competitions in Cape Girardeau, Columbia, Hannibal, Kansas City, St. Joseph, St. Louis and Springfield.

The Missouri champion will receive an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., for the national finals taking place April 30 and May 1. Winners at the national finals will share $50,000 in scholarships and school stipends, with the first-place winner receiving a $20,000 scholarship.