NEW LONDON — Superintendent Winfried Feneberg is pleased to announce that Kearsarge Regional High School recently hosted its 10th annual Poetry Out Loud competition.
Poetry Out Loud is a national organization funded by the Poetry Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts. The nationwide competition is designed to help high school students master public speaking skills, build self-confidence and learn about literary history and contemporary life through the memorization and performance of poems.
A total of 280 students from Kearsarge Regional High School participated in grade-level competitions to try to advance to the schoolwide Poetry Out Loud competition.
On Monday, Jan. 27, sophomore Daniel Courtine of New London and senior Emily Swindell of New London placed first and second, respectively, in the schoolwide Kearsarge Regional High School competition.
Courtine will represent the Kearsarge Regional School District in the Regional Semi-Finals on Wednesday, March 4 at New England College in Henniker, New Hampshire.
“We’re so proud of all of the students who participated in the Poetry Out Loud competition,” said English Teacher Lisa Cicoria. “This competition encourages students to get out of their comfort zone and recite poems in front of a large audience. I commend their bravery and ability to move the audience emotionally with their words.”
At the New Hampshire Regional Semi-Finals, Courtine will face winners from other high schools in the region for a chance to compete in the State Finals at the N.H. State House, 107 North Main St.
Winners from each state will win a cash prize of $200 and a trip to Washington D.C. to compete in the national competition from April 27 to 29. The state champion’s school will also receive $500 to support the expansion of its poetry collection.
About the Poetry Foundation
The Poetry Foundation, publisher of Poetry magazine, is an independent literary organization committed to a vigorous presence for poetry in our culture. It exists to discover and celebrate the best poetry and to place it before the largest possible audience. The Poetry Foundation seeks to be a leader in shaping a receptive climate for poetry by developing new audiences, creating new avenues for delivery, and encouraging new kinds of poetry through innovative partnerships, prizes, and programs. For more information, visit poetryfoundation.org.Follow the Poetry Foundation and Poetry on Facebook at facebook.com/poetryfoundation or on Twitter @PoetryFound.
About the NEA
The National Endowment for the Arts was established by Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government. To date, the NEA has awarded more than $5 billion to strengthen the creative capacity of our communities by providing all Americans with diverse opportunities for arts participation. The NEA extends its work through partnerships with state arts agencies, local leaders, other federal agencies, and the philanthropic sector. To join the discussion on how art works, visit the NEA at arts.gov.
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