Colorado Teen Rize Simmons Wins State Poetry Out Loud Competition for the Second Year in a Row

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Once again, headed to the National Finals to represent Colorado in Washington, DC

DENVER — Gov. Polis, Colorado Creative Industries (CCI), a division of the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT), and Empowered are pleased to announce that Rize Simmons of Windsor High School in Weld County has been named the 2025 Colorado Poetry Out Loud State Champion. A seasoned competitor, Simmons will advance to the national competition May 5 through 7—his second time representing Colorado on the national stage.

"Art, including poetry, serves as a valuable outlet for personal expression and bringing individuals from all backgrounds together. I am incredibly proud of all the participating young poets and congratulate Rize Simmons for winning the Poetry Out Loud competition and advancing to the national stage. Colorado is cheering you on as you represent our state at nationals," said Governor Polis.

This year marks a special milestone for Poetry Out Loud, as it commemorates the 20th anniversary of the program, encouraging high school students to learn about classic and contemporary poetry through memorization, performance, and competition. Presented in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation, 3,200 Colorado youth poets participated in the program. Participating Poetry Out Loud students are 1.7 times more likely to have 4-year college or graduate school aspirations than nonparticipants, even after researchers controlled for other factors. Since the program began in 2005, more than four million students across the country have participated in Poetry Out Loud.

"Poetry Out Loud truly enriches the lives of participants by helping them develop public speaking and interpretation skills while fostering a lifelong love of arts. Rize Simmon embodies the best of Colorado's innovative spirit and we are excited to see him excel on the national stage." said OEDIT Executive Director, Eve Lieberman.

This afternoon, 15 students from 15 Colorado schools, including last year's champion, competed at the annual state finals at the Denver Center for Performing Arts—The Randy Weeks Conservatory Theatre. This year's event was attended by Poetry Foundation's Angelica Flores, emceed by the inaugural poet laureate of Adams County, Colorado Kerrie Joy and judged by some of Colorado's finest poets: Meca'Ayo (Tameca L. Coleman), Cipriano Ortega, Piper Mullins, Joseph Hutchinson, and Jose "Jozer" Guerrero.

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"For nearly two decades, Poetry Out Loud has shown that poetry is truly timeless," said Angelica Flores of the Poetry Foundation. "The anthology spans from Shakespearean works to contemporary poets, yet students continue to find poems they deeply connect with. No matter how much time passes, poetry remains relevant, offering each new generation a chance to discover its power."

Rize, from Windsor High School, had the highest scores for his performance of "Alternate Names for Black Boys," by Danez Smith, "Eddie Priest's Barbershop & Notary," by Kevin Young, and "On Liberty and Slavery," by George Moses Horton. As State Champion, Simmons will receive $500 and an all-expense paid trip to Washington D.C., with an adult chaperone, to compete in the Poetry Out Loud national competition. Windsor High School will also receive $500 for the purchase of poetry materials.

When asked what draws them to poetry, Simmons said, "the style or poetry I gravitate toward is very personal, poems that reflect both the challenges and celebrations of being a person of color. I like upbeat poems with strong imagery and visuals. My mom and I do a lot of research, and I choose poems that I relate to and feel and feel a personal connection with."

Reid Stenberger from Valor Christian High School was second place, while Kenley Ellis from Kent Denver School finished in third place.

A total of $50,000 in awards and school/organization stipends will be given at the Poetry Out Loud National Finals, held from May 5-7, 2025, including a $20,000 award for the National Champion, $10,000 for second place, $5,000 for third place, and $1,000 for fourth through ninth places. The Colorado Poetry Out Loud competition is overseen by CCI and Empowered to encourage young Colorado performers to bring the words of great poets to life and celebrate the role of poetry in literary history and contemporary life.

"For 20 years, Poetry Out Loud continues to ignite confidence, creativity, and a profound sense of belonging for young voices across Colorado and the nation, proving that poetry is not just written—it's lived," said CCI Director Josh Blanchard. "We are especially proud to celebrate Rize, whose dedication and talent exemplify the very essence of this competition and the transformative impact of poetry."

"Poetry inspires young people to discover their voices and express themselves in powerful ways. We are so proud of Rize Simmons for this incredible accomplishment and wish him success as he represents Colorado at the National Finals in Washington, D.C." said Jesse Martinez, CEO of Empowered.

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Empowered, Ltd.

Empowered is a ground-breaking nonprofit, arts, education, and community-driven consulting group. We are passionate about making a difference and committed to empowering people, organizations, and communities. Our 25+ years of experience spans the education, arts and culture, and nonprofit sectors, adding a unique and creative perspective that allows us to think innovatively about your work and your organization's future. Whether you are in the education sector looking to improve educational outcomes, an arts organization seeking ways to deliver culturally responsive programming, a nonprofit set on pivoting toward the future, or a philanthropic foundation eager to innovate, let us ignite your passion for change and impact. To learn more, go to www.empowered-people.com

Colorado Creative Industries

Established in 1967, Colorado Creative Industries (CCI), the state's designated arts agency, is a division of the Office of Economic Development and International Trade. Established to harness the immense potential of Colorado's creative sector, CCI leads an $18.1 billion industry that supports 104,163 jobs, and outpaces industries like utilities, education, and agriculture—advancing its mission to promote, support and expand the creative industries to drive Colorado's economy, grow jobs and enhance our quality of life.

Poetry Out Loud—presented in partnership with the Colorado Creative Industries, National Endowment for the Arts, and the Poetry Foundation—lifts poetry off the page, creating community and connection. Through this program, high school students across the country participate in a dynamic poetry recitation competition that is designed to improve their public speaking skills, help build confidence, and teach them about literary history and contemporary life.

Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade

The Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) works to empower all to thrive in Colorado's economy. Under the leadership of the Governor and in collaboration with economic development partners across the state, we foster a thriving business environment through funding and financial programs, training, consulting and informational resources across industries and regions. We promote economic growth and long-term job creation by recruiting, retaining, and expanding Colorado businesses and providing programs that support entrepreneurs and businesses of all sizes at every stage of growth. Our goal is to protect what makes our state a great place to live, work, start a business, raise a family, visit and retire—and make it accessible to everyone. Learn more about OEDIT.

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