LEWISTON — Ten high-school students from across the state will compete in the Poetry Out Loud contest Friday, March 23, at Bates College’s Olin Arts Center. One student will walk away with the title of state champion and will represent Maine at the national finals in Washington, D.C., in April.

The finalists will recite their choices of classical and contemporary poetry from memory, in front of a live public audience. The event will also be broadcast live on television and the Internet through MPBN.

This year’s finalists are Bethanie Brown of Waterville Senior High School; Joshua Elwood, Bangor High School; Monica Frempong, Morse High School; Eloise Harnett, Gardiner Area High School; Brianna Housman, Searsport District High School; Avery Laderer, Boothbay Region High School; Tyler O’Brien, Merriconeag Waldorf High School; Makaela Reinke, George Stevens Academy; Kiana Sawyer, Portland High School; and Ellyn Touchette, Gorham High School.

All told, about 8,000 competitors began the contest in December.

“The Poetry Out Loud contest continues to be one of the most invigorating programs mounted around poetry that we have administrated,” said Maine Arts Commission Acting Director Darrell Bulmer. “The state final is always an amazing event. The quality of delivery and level of understanding from the student finalists is simply breathtaking.”

The state champion will receive $200, and the winner’s school will receive a $500 stipend for the purchase of poetry books. The second-place finalist will receive $100, with $200 for his or her school library.

The Poetry Out Loud final will begin at 1:45 p.m., with Suzanne Nance, host of MPBN’s “Morning Classical Music,” as emcee. Admission is free.