The Maine Arts Commission announces the state finals for Poetry Out Loud: National Recitation Contest; a program that encourages high school students to learn about great poetry through memorization, performance and competition.
On February 27, students from high schools across Maine will compete in the state finals at the Camden Opera House. The state champion will go on to represent Maine in the national finals in Washington D.C. in April of this year.
The competition, presented in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the Poetry Foundation, is part of a national program that encourages the study of great poetry by offering educational materials and a dynamic recitation competition to high schools across the country. Each year around 225,000 students compete in the national competition that produces 53 finalists from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Before the national finals, students compete in two regional finals and then the Maine state finals. At these finals students recite memorized poetry in front of a live public audience over three rounds.
The winner of the state finals will receive $200, and the winner's school will receive a $500 stipend for the purchase of poetry books. The second place finalist will receive $100, with $200 for his or her school library. The state champion will also receive an all-expenses-paid trip (with a chaperone) to compete in the national finals in Washington, DC, on April 26-April 28, 2009. The National Finals will award a total of $50,000 in scholarships and school stipends. In total, Poetry Out Loud will award more than $100,000 at state- and national-level contests.
The Maine state finals begin with introductions at 5:00 p.m., February 27, and are free and open to everyone wishing to attend. Felicia Knight will be the host for this evening and Maine's First Lady, Karen Baldacci, will present the awards to competing students.
As an added bonus for participants and attendees, Tim Sample will be on stage throughout the competition bringing a mix of poetry and light hearted humor to the proceedings.
Sample, who is more commonly known as a world famous Downeast humorist, will be sharing some of his favorite poems that he has performed over the years, including works by Vassalboro author Holman Day.
This year's state finalists are listed below.
William Whitham, 11th grade, Bangor High School
Katherine Reynolds, 12th grade, Erskine Academy (South China)
Alice Hofgren, 12th grade, Waterville Senior High School
Maggie Ditre, 11th grade, Maranacook Community High School (Readfield)
Sam Schuth,11th grade, Shead High School (Eastport)
Taylor Schultz, 10th grade, Ellsworth High School
Conner Drigotas, 12th grade, Kennebunk High School
Ian Wright, 10th grade, Berwick Academy
Hannah Towers, 12th grade, Cape Elizabeth High School
Noelle Beck. 12th grade, Medomak Valley High School
Jonathon Dana, 10th grade, Fryeburg Academy
About the National Endowment for the Arts
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 Arts Endowment is the largest annual national funder of the arts, bringing great art to all 50 states, including rural areas, inner cities, and military bases.
About the Poetry Foundation
The Poetry Foundation, publisher of Poetry magazine and one of the largest literary organizations in the world, 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 literary prizes and programs. For more information, please visit www.poetryfoundation.org.
Image: Conner Drigotas recites poetry in an earlier round of the competition. Photo Arthur Fink
For more information:
Contact: Darrell Bulmer
Phone: 207/287-6746
email: darrell.bulmer@maine.gov
WWW: mainearts.com
