Press Release: JULIAN CARTER AS 2021 INYO COUNTY POETRY OUT LOUD CHAMPION

INYO COUNCIL FOR THE ARTS ANNOUNCES JULIAN CARTER AS 2021 INYO COUNTY POETRY OUT LOUD CHAMPION

Inyo County, CA — Junior Julian Carter, from Owens Valley High School, received the title of Inyo County Poetry Out Loud Champion at the county finals held virtually this month. The runner-up was Lily Floyd, also from Owens Valley High School in Independence, CA.

This was the eleventh year that Inyo Council for the Arts (ICA) has hosted Poetry Out Loud, which is sponsored nationally by the National Endowment for the Arts and The Poetry Foundation and locally by the California Arts Council. Poetry Out Loud gives students an opportunity to master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn about their literary heritage and win prizes for themselves and their school.

Because of the Coronavirus pandemic, this year’s event was a video submission contest. However, the students’ performances were judged on criteria including presence, evidence of understanding, dramatic performance, and accuracy just as they have always been.

As Inyo county’s champion, Carter will compete in the California State virtual competition in March. Also being held virtually, he will submit his three pre-recorded recitation videos to be adjudicated on March 11^th, with winners announced on March 12^th. The national semifinals will take place on May 2, 2021 and the national finals will take place on May 27, 2021. Both will be video submission-based competitions and will be streamed on arts.gov., where $50,000 in awards and school stipends will be distributed!

To view Carter and Floyd’s winning performances, and for more information about how to follow this exciting national competition, visit www.inyo.org/poetryoutloud.