(RED BANK / MARCH 3, 2026): Joy Ogunsakin, a senior from Trinity Hall in Tinton Falls, was named State Champion at the 2026 New Jersey Poetry Out Loud State Finals, part of the National Poetry Out Loud recitation program. The adjudication took place on March 3rd at Count Basie Center for the Arts in Red Bank, NJ.

Joy will represent New Jersey at the Poetry Out Loud National Finals in Washington D.C. on April 27 – 29, 2026. State Champions will compete for the national Poetry Out Loud title and the chance to win prizes, including college scholarships.

Evelynn Knox, a sophomore from Henry Hudson Regional School in Highlands earned the title of State Runner-Up.

Poetry Out Loud is a national arts education program that encourages the study of great poetry by offering free educational materials and a dynamic recitation competition for high school students across the country.

“The Count Basie Center for the Arts is once again proud to partner with the New Jersey State Council on the Arts and serve as the state’s home for Poetry Out Loud,” said Adam Philipson, President and CEO, Count Basie Center for the Arts. “Each year, this program gives students a powerful platform to express themselves by sharing the poetry that reflects their own voices. We congratulate all of this year’s participants and look forward to supporting Joy at the national competition in April.”

The State Finals was the culmination of a statewide initiative that began in the fall of 2025 and included 10,758 New Jersey students from 68 high schools and organizations across the state.

“For the past 20 years, Poetry Out Loud has been one of the State Arts Council’s cornerstone arts education programs. The talent and dedication of the participating students is truly inspiring,” said Allison Tratner, Executive Director of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. “And we are grateful to the educators, administrators, family members, and friends who supported the students and this program from the beginning. New Jersey has historically been one of the most engaged states in this national program, and that is due to the collective belief in the power of arts education and the priority placed on providing avenues for young people to express themselves. We look forward to cheering on Joy as they represent New Jersey in Washington D.C.!”

Congratulations to all who participated, including the state finalists:

• Myles Cherette from Franklin High School
• Shorook Esmaeel from Dr. Ronald E. McNair Academic High School
• Gabrielle Ford from Livingston Public Schools
• Abigail Grugan from Cinnaminson High School
• Evelynn Knox from Henry Hudson Regional School
• Journe Lucas from Hammonton High School
• Christina Massey from Atlantic City High School
• Sirra Mbye from North Start Academy – Washington Park
• Afra Miao from The Lawrenceville School
• Ella Moise from Ramsey High School
• Joy Ogunsakin from Trinity Hall
• Noelle Sapp from Bridgewater-Raritan Regional High School

For more information about New Jersey Poetry Out Loud and the State Finals, visit www.njpol.org. To watch a video recap of the State Finals competition and to see past competitions, subscribe to our YouTube Channel.

ABOUT THE COUNT BASIE CENTER FOR THE ARTS

The Count Basie Center for the Arts is New Jersey’s premier center for the cultural arts, dedicated to fostering powerful, inclusive artistic experiences and creative exchange of ideas. The Basie mission is to inspire, educate and entertain through its distinct and engaging cultural and artistic offerings that embrace and amplify the diversity of the region. As a nonprofit organization, the Basie is committed to enriching the community’s quality of life by generating opportunities for participation in the arts, partnering with schools, collaborating with other mission-based organizations and driving regional economic prosperity.

ABOUT THE NEW JERSEY STATE COUNCIL ON THE ARTS

The New Jersey State Council on the Arts, created in 1966, is a division of the NJ Department of State and a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts. The Council was established to encourage and foster public interest in the arts; enlarge public and private resources devoted to the arts; promote freedom of expression in the arts; and facilitate the inclusion of art in every public building in New Jersey. The Council believes the arts are central to every element we value most in a modern society including: human understanding; cultural and civic pride; strong communities; excellent schools; lifelong learning; creative expression; and economic opportunity. To learn more about the Council, please visit www.artscouncil.nj.gov.

ABOUT NEW JERSEY POETRY OUT LOUD

New Jersey Poetry Out Loud is a project of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts and the Count Basie Center for the Arts. Poetry Out Loud – a national arts education program – is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with participating state and jurisdictional arts agencies and managed by Mid Atlantic Arts. In New Jersey, the State Arts Council and the Basie work with a growing network of regional partners to implement the program statewide.