SALEM, Ore. — High school students from across the state will gather in Salem this weekend for the 2026 Poetry Out Loud Oregon State Championships. The event is scheduled for Saturday, March 7, at the Historic Grand Theatre from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Hosted by the Oregon Arts Commission, the competition features 11 finalists in a display of memorization, performance and literary interpretation. The participants represent high schools from Portland, Beaverton, Lake Oswego, Salem, Redmond and Medford.
Ariana Morris, a junior at Redmond High School, is among the finalists competing this year. This marks the third year Morris has participated in the state championships. She is one of several students representing schools outside the immediate Salem area…