Past Years Poetry Out Loud Maine State Champions


	Kenny Francoeur and Kate Reynolds, 2007 Poetry Out Loud State of Maine winners. Photo by: Kenneth D'errico

Each year, The Maine Arts Commission and Maine Alliance for Arts Education announce the winners of the Maine finals for Poetry Out Loud: National Recitation Contest. Poetry Out Loud seeks to foster the next generation of literary readers by capitalizing on the latest trends in poetry — memorization and recitation.


	Kate Reynolds, 2007 Poetry Out Loud State of Maine first place winner. Photo by: Kenneth D'errico

Kate Reynolds, 2007

The first place Poetry Out Loud winner for 2007 was Kate Reynolds from Erskine Academy in China, while the winner of second place went to Kenny Francoeur from Biddeford High School in Biddeford.

Kate, a 15-year-old sophomore who attends Erskine Academy, runs cross country, plays French horn, and sings Phantom of the Opera in her spare time. Kate received $200 for winning the Maine State finals, and her school received a $500 stipend for the purchase of poetry books. The runner-up received $100, with $200 for his school library. The first and second prize winners also received trophies and all school winners received a medallion and a certificate of excellence. Kate received an all expenses-paid trip (with a chaperone) to compete in the National Finals in Washington, D.C. At the national competition, Kate competed against 50 other state champions.

Kenny is a junior at Biddeford High School and has been a member of the school tennis team. He has also been active in the school drama program, competing in one act play competitions and other school plays. Outside of school, Kenny has performed in several community theater productions in Maine and New Hampshire, and has been involved in the study of martial arts for over 10 years. He was invited by the People to People Student Ambassador Program to represent the United States as a Student Ambassador to Australia and New Zealand and again to be a delegate the following year to Italy, France and Greece. He hopes to pursure theatre as a career someday.

Kate enthralled the audience with her rendition of "The Shooting of Dan McGrew" by Robert W. Service, "Hysteria" by Dionisio D. Martinez and went on to clinch first place by reciting "The Eagle Poem" by Joy Harjo. Kenny was a close second as he had enchanted the crowd with his theatrics reciting "I am Learning to Abandon the World" by Linda Pastan, "Playing Dead" by Andrew Hudgins and "Childhood's Retreat" by Robert Duncan.


	Riva Dumont, 2006 Poetry Out Loud State of Maine first place winner.


	Left to right: First Lady Karen Baldacci, Nicholas Alden, Riva Dumont and Felicia Knight.

Riva Dumont, 2006

The first place Poetry Out Loud winner for 2006 was Riva Dumont from Erskine Academy in China and the second place winner was Nicholas Alden from Messalonskee High School in Oakland.

High School students from eight Kennebec Valley Region high schools participated in the Poetry Out Loud classroom and schoolwide contests to advance to the state competitions. At the national competition, Dumont competed against 50 other state champions and made it to the final round of 12 students.

When Riva graduates she plans to major in public relations at Champlain College in Burlington, Vermont. At Erskine, Riva is involved in the Theatre and the Speech and Debate club and other activities. Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice and William Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream are her favorite literary works.

“The Maine Arts Commission congratulates all our school winners and we were proud to have them represent the State of Maine at the National Finals,” said Alden C. Wilson, director of the Maine Arts Commission.

For more information on Poetry Out Loud, contact the Maine Arts Commission at 207/287-2724 or visit www.poetryoutloud.org.


National Endowment for the Arts 1100 Pennsylvania Ave., NW Washinghton, DC 20506 www.arts.gov			Poetry Foundation 1030 North Clark Street, Suite 420 Chicago, IL 60610-5412 www.poetryfoundation.org