Morgan Blackgoat of Thunder Mountain High School recites one of her three poems at the annual Poetry Out Loud State Championships held at KTOO’s @360 Studio on Thursday, March 7, 2019. Blackgoat was one of the top four finalists. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Iris Downey of Homer HIgh School recites one of her three poems at the annual Poetry Out Loud State Championships held at KTOO’s @360 Studio on Thursday, March 7, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Natalie Fraser of West Anchorage High School recites one of her three poems at the annual Poetry Out Loud State Championships held at KTOO’s @360 Studio on Thursday, March 7, 2019. Fraser placed second in the event. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Avery Herrman-Sakamoto of Petersburg High School recites one of her three poems at the annual Poetry Out Loud State Championships held at KTOO’s @360 Studio on Thursday, March 7, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Moriah Jacobsen of Glennallen High School recites one of her three poems at the annual Poetry Out Loud State Championships held at KTOO’s @360 Studio on Thursday, March 7, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Talisa McKinley of Ketchikan High School recites one of her three poems at the annual Poetry Out Loud State Championships held at KTOO’s @360 Studio on Thursday, March 7, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Honor Mealey of North Pole High School recites one of her three poems at the annual Poetry Out Loud State Championships held at KTOO’s @360 Studio on Thursday, March 7, 2019. Mealey placed first in the event. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Florence Sarren of Frank A Degnan High School in Unalakleet recites one of her three poems at the annual Poetry Out Loud State Championships held at KTOO’s @360 Studio on Thursday, March 7, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Kiana Vesel of Academy Charter School in Palmer recites one of her three poems at the annual Poetry Out Loud State Championships held at KTOO’s @360 Studio on Thursday, March 7, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Eliana Zimmerman of Tanalian School in Port Alsworth recites one of her three poems at the annual Poetry Out Loud State Championships held at KTOO’s @360 Studio on Thursday, March 7, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Ten contestants wait for one of three rounds at the annual Poetry Out Loud State Championships held at KTOO’s @360 Studio on Thursday, March 7, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)