Perfect Poetry: How Leland Valedictorian Eliza Aldridge Became Michigan's Top Poetry Reciter
By Craig Manning | May 11, 2026
A few years ago, Eliza Aldridge didn’t think she cared much for poetry. Now, the Leland Public School senior – and co-valedictorian of her graduating class – is the reigning Michigan state champion for Poetry Out Loud, a national poetry recitation competition that recently took her all the way to Washington, D.C.
Founded in 2005, Poetry Out Loud invites students from across the United States to perform poems in a competitive setting. According to the Poetry Out Loud website, more than 4.5 million high schoolers have participated in the program since its inception.
Aldridge is an unlikely torchbearer for the tradition. While she grew up surrounded by language – …
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