Poetry Out Loud

2012 “POETRY OUT LOUD” WINNER ADVANCES TO STATE COMPETITION IN SACRAMENTO

North County Christian student Melodie Ann Clement, winner Blythe Berg from Mission College Prep, Morro Bay High student Erica Rohach.

Mission College Prep senior Blythe Berg will represent San Luis Obispo County at the California State “Poetry Out Loud” competition March 25-26 in Sacramento. Berg, a resident of Paso Robles, won the countywide competition in February.

Joannie Hamm, Berg’s English teacher, will accompany her. This is the third time in six years that one of Hamm’s Mission College Prep students will face winners from other California counties at the statewide competition.

Seven other high schools were represented in the sixth annual local competition sponsored by ARTS Obispo/SLO County Arts Council. Nipomo High sophomore Scott Anderson captured runner-up honors. Atascadero High senior Claire Phillips, Lopez High senior Juan Tafolla, Morro Bay High senior Erica Rohach, Paso Robles High sophomore Ruan De Nysschen, San Luis Obispo High senior Taylor Arhar, and North County Christian sophomore Melodie Ann Clement also vied for the opportunity to advance to Sacramento.

Runner-up Scott Anderson from Nipomo High School

“Poetry Out Loud” features students performing great works of poetry from memory. Contestants face a panel of judges – poets and language lovers – who look for poise and self-confidence in addition to recitation skills. Local winners move on to perform at the state level, culminating with the possibility of participating in the national competition in Washington, D.C. in May.

SLO County’s 2012 judges were local poets Lisa Coffman and Kevin Clark, poetry lover and arts activist Linnaea Phillips, and Cuesta College English instructor Tom Patchel. Margaret Kensinger-Klopfer served as accuracy judge.

Judges Lisa Coffman, Linnaea Phillips, Kevin Clark, Thomas Patchel, Margaret Kensinger-Klofper (hidden), and Prompter Kathy Henderson

This year ARTS Obispo initiated a pilot program to bring “Poetry Out Loud” to local middle schools as well. As a result, Laguna Middle School teacher Sandra Delmartin held a competition and student Sahum “Sam” Pal earned a spot during the countywide program to recite. His performance was not part of the competition.

Laguna Middle School student Sam Pal

“Poetry Out Loud” is supported by ARTS Obispo, California Arts Council, National Endowment for the Arts, and Poetry Foundation.