Juneau Senior Cassie Lumba Reaches Poetry Out Loud National Finals

JUNEAU, Alaska (Day.News) — Cassie Lumba, a senior at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé, advanced to the finals of the 2026 Poetry Out Loud national competition after excelling in Tuesday's semifinals in Washington, D.C. Of 54 students from U.S. states and territories, only nine were selected to compete in the finals, where Lumba performed "Longings" by Nellie Rathbone Bright, "Poetry" by Marianne Moore and "O Me! O Life!" by Walt Whitman.

Lumba earned her national berth by winning the Alaska State Poetry Out Loud Championship on March 9 in Juneau, reciting "Under the Harvest Moon" by Carl Sandburg, "Longings" by Nellie Rathbone Bright and "O Me! O Life!" by Walt Whitman. The event drew nine finalists, including runner-up Jasminka Jaksic of West Anchorage High School, Mette Miller and Freya Tucker of Petersburg High School, Jocelyn Oettinger of Tanalian School in Port Alsworth, Kieri Dot Tuttle of IDEA Home School in Anchorage, Robert Wilson of Homer High School, Grace Yang of West Anchorage High School and Lumi Fermin of Juneau-Douglas.

The national finals, hosted by the National Endowment for the Arts and Poetry Foundation, air at 3 p.m. Alaska time Saturday from D.C., culminating in the announcement of the 2026 champion. The top prize is $20,000, with $10,000 for second place and $5,000 for third; winners also receive awards for the recitation, interpretation and selection rounds. Lumba's journey highlights Southeast Alaska's vibrant arts scene, supported by the Juneau Arts and Humanities Council and Alaska State Council on the Arts.