Tallwood High School student, Ahkei Togun, is the Virginia State Champion of the Poetry Out Loud contest. Ahkei won the state title with his reading of the poem, “The Way it Sometimes Is,” by Henry Taylor.

The National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation have partnered with U.S. state arts agencies to support Poetry Out Loud, a contest that encourages the nation’s youth to learn about great poetry through memorization and recitation. This program helps students master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn about their literary heritage.

As Virginia’s winner, he will represent us in the National Poetry Out Loud competition in Washington, D.C. April 27 – 29, competing against other representatives from around the country.