High school students from across the region pose with certificates during the 2025 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards ceremony at the Sutter Theater Center for the Arts in Yuba City. The program, presented locally by Yuba Sutter Arts & Culture, recognizes outstanding creative achievement by students in grades 7–12 and is part of a nationwide initiative celebrating excellence in student writing and art. Photo courtesy of Poetry Out Loud

YUBA CITY, CA (MPG) - High school students from across Yuba and Sutter counties will take the stage later this month as Poetry Out Loud returns with its annual county competitions, scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 31, at the Sutter Theater Center for the Arts in Yuba City.

Poetry Out Loud is a nationwide program that invites students in grades 9–12 to select, memorize and recite poems from an approved anthology of more than 1,000 classic and contemporary works. Through live performance, students develop public speaking skills, build confidence and engage with poetry as a dynamic art form.

The Jan. 31 event will feature two separate county competitions. The Sutter County competition will begin at 10 a.m., followed by the Yuba County competition at 2 p.m. Both events will be held at the Sutter Theater Center for the Arts, located at 754 Plumas St. in Yuba City. The competitions are free and open to the public.

Winners from each county will advance to the California State Poetry Out Loud competition, with the opportunity to continue on to the national finals in Washington, D.C. The program offers students the chance to compete for scholarships and cash prizes while representing their schools and communities on a larger stage.

Poetry Out Loud is presented locally by Yuba Sutter Arts & Culture, which coordinates the program for area schools. The organization encourages community members to attend and support the participating students.

For more information about the event, contact Yuba Sutter Arts & Culture at (530) 742-ARTS or visit yubasutterarts.org.