SMYRNA — Twelve Delaware high school students will participate in the state finals Tuesday at 7 p.m. for Poetry Out Loud: National Recitation Contest at Smyrna Opera House.

The winner of this competition will represent Delaware and advance to the National Finals in Washington, D.C. on April 29–May 1, where $50,000 in awards and school stipends will be distributed.

This program is sponsored by the Delaware Division of the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Poetry Foundation.

Smyrna Opera House is 7 W. South St.

Delaware State finalists are

Emma Elliott, Dover High School;

Chelsea Anokye-Agyei, Hodgson Vo-Tech High School;

Sarah Stevenson, Milford Senior High School;

Nadia Sheikh, MOT Charter High School;

Daniel Patrick Johnson, Mount Sophia Academy;

Megan Chen, Newark Charter High School;

Ashton Driver, Red Lion Christian Academy;

Anne Rosenthal, Sanford School;

Brandon Greenlee, Sussex Central High School;

Samuel McGarvey, Tall Oaks Classical School;

Catherine Enslen, Ursuline Academy

Mariela Rivero, Wilmington Christian School.

Speakers will be Paul Weagraff, director, Delaware Division of the Arts and J. Mack Wathen, Chair, Delaware State Arts Council.

Mistress of ceremonies is Donna DeKuyper, Singer, Actress and Co-Owner, Hotel Blue, Lewes.

Judges are:

Dr. Ethan Joella, English and Social Sciences Faculty, University of Delaware, Georgetown, Director, Ethan Joella Communications

Susan Kehoe, Managing Partner, Browseabout Books, Rehoboth Beach,

The Rev. John G. Moore, Director, Philanthropy and Engagement, United Way of Delaware

Chet’la Sebree, 2019 Individual Artist Fellow – Poetry

Dr. David Teague, Professor of English, Associate in Arts Program, University of Delaware

Dr. Jesse Zuba, Assistant Professor of English, Delaware State University

Christian Wills, Former Poetry Out Loud Contestant will serve as the Prompter

Heather Morrissey, Delaware State Arts Council Member will serve as Accuracy Judge

JW2, made up of James Witherite (organ) and Jonathan W. Whitney (drums), will entertain.

Admission is free.