The Poetry Out Loud contest will take place January 14 at 6 p.m. in the Theatre.

Poetry Out Loud is a national poetry recitation contest. The organization selects hundreds of famous poems from all different times and places. Students select three poems and then memorize them to perform in front of a live audience.

Jeff Landow, language arts teacher is one of the coordinators of the contest.

“Students are judged not only if they hit all the right words, but also on things like tone, inflection and apparent understanding,” Landow said.

This year, the contest has a record number of 24 students who have said they are interested, however, Landow said that in the past, many students who express interest do not always follow through.

“We expect 10 to 12 participants this year, but I can’t say yet who they will be.”

There are returning participants from last year, including juniors Rachel Sage, Ryan Schaper and Madeleine Wilmsen.

The winner of the Lafayette contest will receive a certificate, t-shirt and an iTunes gift card and will continue on to the regional contest which will take place sometime in February.

The deadline to enter the contest has passed, however if there are students who wants to sign up, it has to be done before winter break.