Meet Jayda Dawn, the Indiana 11th-grader who became America’s national poetry champion

Jayda Dawn, an 11th grader at University High School in Indiana, has emerged as the 2026 Poetry Out Loud National Champion. By delivering works from celebrated poets, she secured a remarkable $20,000 prize. Throughout the event, Dawn highlighted the essence of friendship and community among her peers, urging fellow participants to engage deeply with poetry rather than focusing solely on victory.