Ohio student takes national poetry crown

WASHINGTON, May 17 (UPI) -- A high school senior from Columbus, Ohio, has won the nation's first Poetry Out Loud title for his performance at Washington's Lincoln Theatre.

Jackson Hille's recitation of Billy Collins' poem "Forgetfulness" Tuesday night earned him the national title and a $20,000 scholarship from the National Arts Endowment and the Poetry Foundation, which publishes Poetry magazine.

Hille was among the field of 51 state winners, which was whittled down to 12 finalists who competed in the final round Tuesday.

New Hampshire high school senior Teal Van Dyke finished second and won a $10,000 scholarship.

The judges were Caroline Kennedy -- the daughter of the late President John Kennedy -- Pulitzer Prize-winning literary critic Michael Dirda, authors Azar Nafisi and Curtis Sittenfeld and author, poet, and former National Endowment for the Arts Deputy Chairman A.B. Spellman.