North Dakota Council on the Arts Announces the
Winners of the Poetry Out Loud State Finals

ND POL Traveling Trophy awarded to MInot High
The North Dakota Council on the Arts is pleased to announce that the first place winner of the North Dakota State Poetry Out Loud: National Recitation Contest is Stephen Gasser of Minot High School, Magic City Campus in Minot, ND. The second place winner is Matthew Donahue of Shanley High School in Fargo, ND. Third place was awarded to Levi Brown of Cavalier Public School in Cavalier, ND. Dorothy Tegtmeier of Northern Cass County High School, and Caleb M. Lee of Wahpeton High School also placed in the top five. The competition was presented in partnership with The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the Poetry Foundation. The state finals competition took place on Monday, March 19, at the Belle Mehus Auditorium in Bismarck, ND. Stephen Gasser will advance to the National Finals in Washington, DC on May 13-15, 2012, where a total of $50,000 in scholarships and school stipends, with at least a $20,000 college scholarship for the Poetry Out Loud National Champion, will be awarded.