NEVADA COUNTY

Nevada County Arts Council announced the winners of the 2026 Poetry Out Loud County Championships after a year of exciting local firsts, and unique challenges for the national program. Students from Truckee were able to participate for the first time in the competition this year.

Aurora Derrick, of Truckee High School, won first place in the competition for their recitation of ‘Militants to Certain Other Women’ by Katharine Rolston Fisher, and ‘Fruit of the Flower’ by Countee Cullen. Derrick will go on to represent Nevada County at the state championships on March 8 and 9.

This year’s national Poetry Out Loud curriculum was subjected to controversial changes with its poetry selection, asking for submissions that positively commemorated the 250th anniversary of the United States. While many across the country chose not to participate, Nevada County Arts Council and the students’ coaches put in a tremendous effort to maintain a core local purpose: to bring poetry to those who may never have recited a poem before, and spread the transformational experiences that make poetry so meaningful. 

All of the Nevada County finalists have been invited to present their poems at the 10th annual Sierra Poetry Festival, taking place on Saturday, April 18. 

For more information, visit capoetryoutloud.org and nevadacountyarts.org/poetry-out-loud. 

~ Nevada County Arts Council press release