Scholastic Student Writing Honorees in 2025. Photo courtesy of Yuba Sutter Arts & Culture

MARYSVILLE, CA (MPG) - Opportunities for students in the arts are high on Yuba Sutter Arts & Culture’s (YSAC) list of priorities so once again, it is inviting students to be a part of the annual Scholastic Art and Writing Awards and Poetry Out Loud programs.

Poetry Out Loud is open to all high school students, public, private, parochial, independent, charter and home-schooled students in grades 9-12. The longstanding national Poetry Out Loud program, now in its 21st year, involves live participation by high school students who commit to memorizing and reciting poems in front of an audience.

Students master public speaking skills, build self-confidence and learn about their literary heritage. Following a public competition each year, a champion from each county is chosen to attend the state finals. There are opportunities for scholarships, prize money and a competition that ends with cash prizes for top finishers and a pizza party.

Yuba City 2025 Winners from left are Sally Leonard, Lisette Perez and Devon Giardini. Photo courtesy of Yuba Sutter Arts & Culture

Educators who have students participate in Poetry Out Loud receive a $100 check and schools that produce a county winner receive a $500 check at the end of the competition. The deadline for students to register to participate is Jan. 23, 2026. The competition date is Jan. 31, 2026, at the Sutter Theater Center for the Arts with two sessions, one for each county. Learn more on the website:  https://yubasutterarts.org/program/poetry-out-loud/.

The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards are the nation’s longest-running and most prestigious recognition program for creative teens in grades 7–12 (ages 13+). As the Scholastic Art and Writing Award program Northern California affiliates for seven counties, Yuba Sutter Arts & Culture is pleased to see that participation has increased significantly during the post-pandemic years. Last year, we received more entries in each category from more schools than ever before in our history with the program.

The top art and writing winners at the regional level will be moved on to the national stage, where nearly 3,000 students earn National Medals. The Art submission deadline is Jan. 3, 2026, and the Writing submission deadline is Dec. 13.  The Regional Art & Writing Awards Ceremony for Yuba, Sutter, Colusa, Nevada, Placer, Yolo and Sierra counties will be held on Feb. 21, 2026 at the Sutter Theater Center for the Arts, 754 Plumas Street in Yuba City.

Sutter City 2025 Winners from left are Thalia Guzman, Efrain Ibarra Maldonado and Angeleek Viola. Photo courtesy of Yuba Sutter Arts & Culture

Learn more on the website:  https://yubasutterarts.org/program/scholastic-art-writing/. The winners in all categories will then go on for regional and national recognition. To enter their work for award consideration, interested students must create an online account at www.artandwriting.org.  Follow the simple instructions to submit artwork or written work in various categories.  Yuba Sutter Arts & Culture will manage the local judging process.

The program helps celebrate the accomplishments of creative students, extending opportunities for recognition, exhibition, publication and scholarships to teenagers who demonstrate exceptional aptitude in writing and art. Yuba Sutter Arts & Culture team members will be visiting English, Theater and Art classrooms to inspire student participation in both of these programs.

Do not hesitate to contact Yuba Sutter Arts & Culture for assistance at any level: [email protected] or call 530-742-ARTS. For more information about these programs and other upcoming YSAC 2024 events, go to yubasutterarts.org.