POETRY OUT LOUD WINNERS ANNOUNCED: Kamaria Stephens of East High School in Cheyenne was named the winner of the Wyoming Poetry Out Loud recitation contest April 11 at a ceremony at the State Capitol rotunda in Cheyenne. She wins a $200 cash prize and an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C., for the Poetry Out Loud national finals May 15-16. Her school receives a $500 stipend to buy poetry books for the library. Runner-up was Josh Schaberg of Buffalo High School, Buffalo. He wins a $100 cash prize and a $200 poetry book stipend for his school library. Seven of the 11 schools that participated in the first year of Poetry Out Loud sent their champions to the finals. Joining Stephens and Schaberg was Christoper Curley, Triumph H.S., Cheyenne; Rebecca Boyer, Cokeville H.S., Cokeville; Brittany Hinderman, McCormick Junior High, Cheyenne; Arlis Perry, Pathfinder H.S., Lander; and a student from Attention Homes, Cheyenne. Each contestant received a personalized certificate and signed books by U.S. Poet Laureate Ted Kooser and Wyoming Poet Laureate David Romtvedt. In the finals, held the evening of April 10 at The Plains Hotel, each competitor recited two works from the Poetry Out Loud anthology. They were judged on memorization, voice inflection, stage presence, and other criteria. Contest judges were Wyoming State Auditor Max Maxfield, Cheyenne; Harry Woods, director of the Cheyenne Little Theatre Players, Cheyenne; and Stephanie Painter, a poet from Saratoga and founder of Casper’s WordBand. Woods and Painter wrapped up the two-day event with a writing and performance workshop for the students. The next session of Poetry Out Loud will take place during the 2006-2007 school year. Students in grades 9-12 are eligible. Sponsors are the Wyoming Arts Council, National Endowment for the Arts, and the Poetry Foundation.
- posted by Michael Shay @ 10:54 AM