Ohio Students Compete in Poetry Out Loud State Finals
by Stephanie Dawson
Students from 29 high schools from around Ohio will take part in the 2010 Poetry Out Loud: National Recitation Contest. This exciting event helps students master public speaking skills, build self-confidence and learn about their literary heritage. Poetry Out Loud works like a spelling bee with individual schools hosting competitions and picking school champions. These students are eligible to compete in the state finals to be held on Saturday, March 13, 2010 at 4 p.m. following the preliminary rounds starting at 12 Noon. The event will be held at the Matesich Theatre at Ohio Dominican University in Columbus. NBC 4's Marshall McPeek will emcee the finals.
The winner at the state level will receive $300 and an all-expenses paid trip to Washington, D.C. to compete for the national championship. 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. The third place winner will receive $100 and $50 for his or her school library. A total of $50,000 in scholarships and school stipends will be awarded to the winners at the National Poetry Out Loud Finals held April 25-27, 2010 in Washington, D.C. Ohio winner Jackson Hille won the inaugural National Finals in 2006.
Schools that participate in Poetry Out Loud receive many benefits. Teacher and student workshops are offered to participants and schools can also receive artist visits by Ohio Arts Council poets and writers. In addition, every teacher receives a free toolkit containing a poetry anthology, teacher study guide, CD of student performances and a poster to advertise the contest. Poetry Out Loud brings the dynamic aspects of slam poetry, spoken word and theater into English classes all over Ohio.
Participating schools include: Garfield High School, Akron; Beavercreek High School, Beavercreek; Canal Winchester High School, Canal Winchester; Chagrin Falls High School, Chagrin Falls; Purcell Marian High School, Cincinnati; Northmont High School, Clayton; The Lyceum, Cleveland; Cleveland Heights High School, Cleveland Heights; Arts and College Preparatory Academy, Columbus Alternative High School, Eastmoor High School, Columbus; Chaminade Julienne High School, Early College Academy, Dayton; Natural Learning Montessori, Dublin; Westland High School, Galloway; Ironton High School, Ironton; Archbishop Alter High School, Kettering Fairmont High School, Kettering; Logan High School, Logan; Medina High School, Medina; Milford High School, Milford; Reynoldsburg High School, Reynoldsburg; Shaker Heights High School, Shaker Heights; Greenon High School, Springfield; Stow-Munroe Falls High School, Stow; Tallmadge High School, Tallmadge; Trotwood Madison High School, Trotwood; Upper Arlington High School, Upper Arlington; Westerville Central High School, Westerville.
The National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation are presenting Poetry Out Loud: National Recitation Contest, in partnership with the Ohio Arts Council, the Thurber House and Ohioana Library Association. Poetry Out Loud encourages high school students to learn about poetry through memorization, performance and competition.
The NEA and the Poetry Foundation have each contributed $500,000 towards the 2010 Poetry Out Loud program in support of materials, grants, prizes and the National Finals in April. Ohio will receive approximately $20,000 from this budget, with matching funds provided by the Ohio Arts Council.
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.
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