Senior Kareem Sayegh, shown here competing in the Eastern Illinois regional Poetry Out Loud contest in February, is one of 12 finalists for the national title. Gargoyle photo by David Porreca (click to enlarge)

UPDATE (April 28, 9:46 p.m.) — Senior Kareem Sayegh places third in the Poetry Out Loud national finals today (Day 2) in Washington, D.C. As the third-place winner he will receive a $5,000 college scholarship.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senior Kareem Sayegh's ability to recite poetry earned him a $1,000 college scholarship on Monday, and he's still in the running for an even bigger prize: $20,000.

Sayegh is one of 12 students out of 53 state champions who made the cut to compete in today's Poetry Out Loud national finals at the George Washington University Lisner Auditorium in Washington, D.C.

The contest began Monday with three semifinal rounds. Only the top four students in each round advanced to today's finals, which will begin at 7 p.m. Eastern/6 p.m. Central time.

Poetry Out Loud is a nationwide recitation competition sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation.

Participants are judged on physical presence, voice and articulation, appropriateness of dramatization, level of difficulty, evidence of understanding, overall performance, and accuracy.

Sayegh, the Illinois state champion, recited three poems:

• "A Supermarket in California" by Allen Ginsberg
• "The Man-Moth" by Elizabeth Bishop
• "The Windhover" by Gerard Manley Hopkins

Today's judges will include award-winning actress Tyne Daly, "Prairie Home Companion" host Garrison Keillor, and poet Luis Rodriguez.

Scott Simon, host of National Public Radio's "Weekend Edition Saturday," will serve as today's master of ceremonies. Singer Natalie Merchant will perform as well.

The first-place winner will receive a $20,000 scholarship, followed by $10,000 for the runner-up and$5,000 for the third-place finisher.

Each of the other students in the top 12 will receive a $1,000 scholarship — which means that's the least Sayegh will come home with. He's also won a $500 stipend for Uni High, which the school will use to buy poetry books.