Eight students tried to talk their way into a trip to Washington, D.C., and one succeeded. Senior Michael Sly of Shanley High School in Fargo won an expense-paid trip to the Poetry Out Loud national competition. He competed at the state level Wednesday.

Poetry Out Loud is a national initiative to get students interested in poetry and the arts. At the competitions, students read poetry. The students who competed at Belle Mehus Auditorium read two selections in a semi-final round, then the top three scorers competed in a final round.

In addition to the trip, Sly won $200 and his school received a $500 stipend for poetry books. The second place winner, sophomore Ashley Boyko of Dakota Adventist Academy, won $100 and $200 for her school library and third place went to senior Nateal Falk of Lisbon High School. Each competitor received a book of 500 poems and an engraved bookmark.

The national competition is April 30 and May 1, where Sly will compete against other state winners.