Faasao Marist High School senior Ailima Johnson won the 2026 Poetry Out Loud competition held last Friday at the ASCC Multi-purpose Center.
Johnson will represent American Samoa at the Poetry Out Loud National Championships to be held April 27-29 in Washington DC.
Here’s an excerpt from Johnson’s recitation of the poem, “Suzanne B. Anthony” by Katharine Rolston Fisher.
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Two students shared second place: Emma Lei Painter, a senior at Tafuna High School, and Michelle Lavea, a senior at Fagaitua High School.
There was also a tie for 3rd place: Diamond Hollister, a junior at Pacific Horizons School, and Lotutamaiti David, a senior from Samoana High School.
The other competitors were Chelsea Underwood of South Pacific Academy, Materina Lauina of Iakina Adventist Academy, and Pamata Mapu of Kananafou High School.
The judges were Aaron Thomas of the Governor’s Office, Sreeja Sreenivasan of DOE, Lorena Seu of the Arts Council, and Governor’s Office and Lydith Power of the Department of Health.
Photos: American Samoa Council on Arts, Culture & Humanities
