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 2026 Poetry Out Loud national finals after excelling in semifinals Tuesday in Washington, D.C. Of 54 students from U.S. states and territories, only nine moved forward, with Lumba delivering "Longings" by Nellie Rathbone Bright, "Poetry" by Marianne Moore and "O Me! O Life!" by Walt Whitman.[1] The finals, set for 3 p.m. Alaska time today, will crown the national champion with a $20,000 prize.[1] Lumba earned her national berth by winning the Alaska state competition on March 9 in Juneau, where nine finalists from across the state competed. She recited "Under the Harvest Moon" by Carl Sandburg, "Longings" by Nellie Rathbone Bright and "O Me! O Life!" by Walt Whitman to claim the title, representing the capital city's vibrant arts scene.[3] Runner-up Jasminka Jaksic of West Anchorage High School recited poems by Katharine Rolston Fisher and Paul Laurence Dunbar.[3] Other Alaska finalists included students from Petersburg High School, Tanalian School in Port Alsworth, IDEA Home School in Anchorage and Homer High School.[3] Poetry Out Loud, sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts, encourages high school students to master public recitation and engage with poetry. Lumba's journey from local Juneau rounds in March to national semifinals April 27-29 underscores Alaska's strong participation despite its remote communities.[1][2] In a YouTube reflection, the Alaska finalist shared insights on her Poetry Out Loud experience.[4]