Six high school students from across Nevada will compete in the 21st Annual Poetry Out Loud Nevada State Finals, at the Joe Crowley Student Union theater at the University of Nevada, Reno on Saturday, March 7.
This year’s finalists are: Mari Basaca Fuentes of Lyon County, Cash Bourquin of Douglas County, Mia Gonzalez of Washoe County, Makala Heyder of Carson City, Bailey McClain of Storey County, Sara Wang of Clark County.
High schoolers in all 17 Nevada counties were invited to compete. District semi-finals were held in Carson City, Clark County, Douglas County, Lyon County, Storey County and Washoe County. Poetry Out Loud is a national arts education program and competition supported by the National Endowment for the Arts and state arts agencies, like the Nevada Arts Council, from across the county. Nevada students will read their selected poems before a live audience for the chance to represent the Silver State at the national Poetry Out Loud national finals in Washington, D.C., this April. Performances begin at 1 p.m. and are free and open to the public.
Poetry Out Loud is a nationwide program that helps students develop self-confidence and public speaking skills through poetry recitation. It is orchestrated on a state level via the Nevada Arts Council, a division of the Nevada Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, that helps encourage artistic and economic activity across the state. Nevada Arts Council has been facilitating Nevada’s participation in the program for more than 20 years.
Competitors across the country select and perform poems from a curated anthology. This year, it focused on America250 in commemoration of the 250th signing of the Declaration of Independence, featuring poems commemorating the rich tapestry of American stories. School winners advance to district competitions, with those top performers moving to the state competition and the state winner advancing to the national stage in Washington, D.C., April 27–29, 2026.
“By braving this endeavor and taking the stage, students develop skills that will serve them throughout their lives,” said Tony Manfredi, executive director of the Nevada Arts Council. “Poetry Out Loud highlights so many positives of our respective communities, while helping students grow as communicators and critical thinkers. We are proud to support a program that prepares young Nevadans for success in any path they choose.”
The Joe Crowley Student Union is located at 1664 N. Virginia St. in Reno, Nevada. The University of Nevada, Reno, is a proud partner of this year’s Poetry Out Loud state finals. Its support empowers students to find their voices, recite poetry, and build confidence through creative expression.
A live stream of the event also will be available on the Nevada Arts Council’s YouTube channel.
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