Six Students Compete in Ohio’s Poetry Out Loud Recitation Contest
by Kathy Burgan

Six High School students have qualified to participate in Ohio’s 2007 Poetry Out Loud Recitation Contest on Saturday, March 10 at the Southern Theatre in downtown Columbus. The winner of this competition will be Ohio’s representative at the Poetry Out Loud National Recitation Contest in Washington, D.C., April 30 - May 1, 2007. Poetry Out Loud is a program that encourages high school students to learn about great poetry through memorization, performance and competition.

Participating students include: Steven Myers from Amanda Clearcreek High School, Amanda; Jamie Brew from Columbus Alternative High School, Columbus; Rebecca Beard from FCI Academy, Columbus ; Lesley Fisher from Granville High School, Granville ; Kaitlyn Mundy from Logan Hocking High School, Logan ; and Tony Jackson from Westland High School, Galloway.

The winner at the state level will receive $300 and an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington D.C. to compete in the Poetry Out Loud National Recitation Contest. The state winner's school will receive a $500 stipend for the purchase of poetry books. A runner-up will receive $200, with $200 for his or her school library. Additionally, a total of $50,000 in scholarships and school stipends will be awarded to the winners at the National Finals.

After successful pilot programs in Washington, D.C. and Chicago, the second year of Poetry Out Loud was launched in high schools across America in the winter and spring of 2006 with tens of thousands of students participating. Ohio high school student Jackson Hille won the inaugural National Finals on May 16, 2006.

The Poetry Out Loud National Recitation Contest is presented by The National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation in partnership with the Ohio Arts Council, the Thurber House and Ohioana Library Association.

Poetry Out Loud seeks to foster the next generation of literary readers by capitalizing on the latest trends in poetry recitation and performance. The program builds on the resurgence of poetry as an oral art form, as seen in the slam poetry movement and the immense popularity of rap music among youth. Poetry Out Loud invites the dynamic aspects of slam poetry, spoken word and theater into the English class. Through Poetry Out Loud, students can master public speaking skills, build self-confidence and learn about their literary heritage.

The National Endowment for the Arts is a public agency dedicated to supporting excellence in the arts – both new and established – bringing the arts to all Americans, and providing leadership in arts education. Established by Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government, the Endowment is the nation’s largest annual funder of the arts, bringing great art to all 50 states, including rural areas, inner cities and military bases.

The Ohio Arts Council is a state agency that funds and supports quality arts experiences to strengthen Ohio communities culturally, educationally and economically.

Rebecca Beard (43219)
Jamie Brew (43211)
Lesley Fisher (43023)
Tony Jackson (43119)
Kaitlyn Mundy (43138)
Steven Myers (43102)

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