Albuquerque Public Schools
APS Student Wins State Poetry Out Loud Title
La Cueva senior advances to national competition as Volcano Vista student earns runner-up honors.
A student from La Cueva High School has been named the New Mexico Poetry Out Loud State Champion, earning the opportunity to represent the state on a national stage. Hadas Frish took top honors in this year’s competition, while Noelle Humphreys of Volcano Vista High School was named runner-up.
The Poetry Out Loud program, a nationwide recitation competition, encourages students to engage with classic and contemporary poetry while building public speaking skills, confidence and an appreciation for the written word.
La Cueva High School has participated in the program since 2019, and Frish is the school’s first state champion since 2020. She will travel to Washington, D.C., at the end of April to compete in the national finals against students from across the country.
Since its founding in 2006, Poetry Out Loud has provided students with opportunities to explore poetry in a dynamic and personal way, connecting literature with performance and self-expression. Achievements like this highlight the strength of arts education and the powerful voices of APS students.