Not everyday does an 18-year-old high school student get to represent their state on a national stage. After Windsor High School junior Rize Simmons of Weld County secured the title of 2025 Colorado Poetry Out Loud State Champion, he represented the state in the national Poetry Out Loud competition—for the second time. Simmons’ achievement granted him an all-expense-paid trip to Washington D.C. where he competed against winners from other states for a $20,000 award and the National Champion title.
In its 20th year, the Poetry Out Loud program demonstrates that by empowering high school students to discover classic and contemporary poetry, research shows participants are 1.7 times more likely to have four-year college or graduate school aspirations than nonparticipants, even after controlling for other factors. Since its inception in 2005, over four million students nationwide have embraced the power of poetry through this program.
Photo courtesy of Hava Simmons
At the national competition, Rize performed three poems and advanced to the semifinals where he finished in the top 24. We recently connected with Rize to discuss his participation in the national competition and gather his insights:
What is your biggest takeaway from visiting D.C. for the national competition twice? What does it mean to you to represent Colorado?
Simmons: My biggest takeaway from competing in D.C. twice is the amount of talent that's around the U.S. in terms of young poets. D.C. is also such a beautiful and diverse city. It means a lot to me to be able to represent Colorado at a national level because it feels like I got a whole army of supporters behind me.
Through this experience, I’ve learned a lot about myself and learned a new form of self expression. I’ve done theater for a long time but there’s something about the personal connection that Poetry Out Loud allows that is more prominent. I’ve learned to be more comfortable with public speaking and how to be vulnerable in front of people you don’t know.
What inspires you about poetry, and what draws you to the poems you choose?
Simmons: What inspires me about poetry is the personal connections that are made to the poems. The poems I'm most drawn to are about self ownership and the struggles of people of color. The poems I performed I really connect to because I share similar experiences as these poets.
I’ve performed “The Song of the Smoke” by W.E.B. Du Bois at least four times. I’ve chosen it because I believe it mirrors my experience. When I was younger, being black came with no advantages and an onslaught of problems with my community. As I’ve grown up, I'm now using my pride in myself and my culture to be comfortable in my skin and make meaningful connections. The other poem I performed is “Eddie Priest's Barbershop & Notary” by Kevin
Young which is more lighthearted. I love this style of poetry where a poem is observational and you can visualize the scene. I also chose “Dr. Booker T. Washington to the National Negro Business League” by Seamon Cotter, Sr.—it felt like a different perspective than I’m used to. I like the way it sounds like the narrator is delivering a speech which I haven’t done before with the other poems. I really enjoy how the narrator conveys his beliefs.
What’s your process for memorizing and performing?
Simmons: My process starts with the memorization of the piece. I split the poem up in parts and go over it over and over again until I'm completely comfortable with the words. Then I begin adding the movements that I feel necessary. After that I just continue to practice and tweak until I'm satisfied. I enjoy the process of learning the poem. Poetry is a powerful thing and it’s now become a part of my life.
How has participating in Poetry Out Loud impacted your aspirations for the future, particularly regarding higher education?
Simmons: More than anything, Poetry Out Loud has made me want to write my own poetry. I definitely will continue to keep poetry in my life. I’m going to college for sports broadcasting and this experience makes me want to figure out new ways of implementing what I’ve learned into journalism and my everyday life. As I head towards the end of my high school career, it’s amazing to reflect back on where I started my freshman year to now and how it’s evolved with my ability to perform. The intentionality that I come into Poetry Out Loud with is something that I’ve grown into. [This experience] shows how I’ve grown as a person. Poetry Out Loud gave me something to work towards every year.
What advice would you give to other high school students who are considering participating in Poetry Out Loud?
Simmons: The advice that I'd give other students who are considering competing in Poetry Out Loud is to totally go after it! Not only does it allow you to travel and meet new people but you can also learn about yourself. I love that everyone performing has a connection to their poem. There’s a poem for everyone. Poetry Out Loud is something all schools should implement. In today’s world, it’s getting harder and harder to find mediums of self expression or authentic ways to connect. Giving kids access to engage with poetry allows them to find connections.
The Colorado Creative Industries division of OEDIT and Empowered oversee the state Poetry Out Loud competition encouraging young Colorado performers to engage with and celebrate poetry from literary history to contemporary life. The National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation proudly presents Poetry Out Loud nationwide.