Alabama
announces Poetry Out Loud State Champion
The
virtual celebration also recognized original poems addressing social challenges
MONTGOMERY, Ala., (March
2, 2021) — Every year, thousands of high school educators integrate Poetry Out
Loud into their curriculum. The program helps students master public speaking
skills, build self-confidence, and learn about literary history and
contemporary life. On February 22, Alabama State Council on the Arts and
Alabama Arts Alliance hosted a virtual ceremony celebrating 34
students from high schools all over the state who placed regionally in the
National Poetry Out Loud Competition, Alabama’s State Original Poetry
Competition, and the 2020 Social Challenge Poem Competition.
“Poetry Out Loud is a wonderful example of a partnership
between federal, state, and local arts organizations that engages students
across Alabama,” said Dr. Elliot Knight, Executive Director of Alabama State
Council on the Arts. “We are thankful for the support and leadership of the
National Endowment for the Arts and are proud of all our Alabama students who
made it to the state finals and participated this year.”
Hosted by Greta Lambert, the state finals ceremony honored all
regional winners and their teachers and featured videos of finalists performing
powerful recitations of poetry.
“The participants in this year’s Poetry Out Loud represent
the best of Alabama’s students, reflecting on and understanding the work of
classic poets, and creating their own poetry in response to the contemporary
world,” said Dr. Andrew Henley, the Council’s Deputy Director.
First place in the Alabama Poetry Out Loud National Competition
went to Soojin Park for her performance of “Say Grace” by Emily Jungmin
Yoon. Soojin is a senior at Auburn High School (Teacher, Davis Thompson) and will
represent Alabama in the National Finals, happening virtually this May. Samuel
Schultz, a junior who competed as an independent student, came in second place.
Honorable mentions were awarded to Catherine Jewel Edwards, Emily Yuri
Lee, and Shemai’ya Peak.
Alabama is one of the few states that includes an original
poetry competition within its state poetry finals. Soojin Park was also selected
as the original poetry winner with her poem “ireum.” Second place went to
Vivian Gates for “Jacques A Dit.” Honorable mentions in original poetry were
awarded to Madison Forman for “Plot Twist” and Taylore Kenty for “Don’t Choose
Me.”
“This was Alabama’s
16th season for Poetry Out Loud. We missed seeing these incredible
students in person. Still, their tenacity and ever-amazing voices have
continued to break through,” said Diana Green, the Council’s Arts in Education
Program Manager.
This year, the state introduced another competition, the
2020 Social Challenge. Students were encouraged to write and recite an original
poem addressing any topic relevant to the challenges the world faced in the
year 2020. Topics ranged from systemic racism and gun violence to the COVID-19
pandemic. Taylore Kenty, a junior from Ramsay High School (Teacher, Jaqueline Lockhart),
won first place for “The Belt.” Soojin Park was awarded second place for “The
Invisibles.”
To watch this year’s awards ceremony, visit bit.ly/ALPoetryOutLoud.
To view the winning poem recitations, visit bit.ly/POLStateFinalists.
For additional information about this program, please
contact Diana Green, Arts in Education Program Manager for Alabama State
Council on the Arts, at 334-242-5148 or diana.green@arts.alabama.gov; or
Donna Russell, Executive Director, Alabama Arts Alliance at 334-269-1435 or drussell@alartsalliance.org.
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About Alabama State Council on the Arts
The Council on the Arts is the official state agency
for the support and development of the arts in Alabama. The Council works to
expand and preserve the state's cultural resources by supporting nonprofit arts
organizations, schools, colleges, units of local government, and individual
artists. Arts programs, assisted by Council grants, have a track record of
enhancing community development, education, cultural tourism, and overall
quality of life in all regions of the state. The Alabama State Council on the
Arts receives an annual appropriation from the Alabama Legislature and
additional funds from the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.
About Poetry Out Loud™
A partnership of the National Endowment for the Arts, Poetry
Foundation, and the state and jurisdictional arts agencies, Poetry Out Loud is
a national arts education program that encourages the study of great poetry by
offering free educational materials and a dynamic recitation competition to
high schools across the country.
Press contact:
Perri Hubbard
Communications & Public Relations Specialist
334-242-5153
perri.hubbard@arts.alabama.gov