The winner of the Wyoming Poetry Out Loud state finals will be announced at an awards ceremony in the Capitol Rotunda at 8 a.m., Tuesday, March 11. This year’s competition will be held at 7 p.m., Monday, March 10 at the Plains Hotel in Cheyenne.
Wyoming Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources Director Milward Simpson will serve as master of ceremonies and make the awards presentation March 11.
This year’s winner will receive a $200 scholarship and an expense-paid trip to Washington D.C. to represent Wyoming in the National Poetry Out Loud competition, April 27-29. The winner’s school will receive a $500 stipend for the purchase of poetry books. Wyoming’s runner-up will receive a $100 scholarship, with their school receiving a $200 stipend.
Students from Buffalo, Cody, Cheyenne East, Guernsey-Sunrise, Star Valley and Wheatland high schools participated in this year’s competition, as well as representatives of Cheyenne’s Carey Junior High School.
Judges for the Wyoming finals competition are Jackson resident Bob Berky, an actor, director, playwright and theatrical clown who's performed throughout the world; Laramie County Community College instructor Damien Kortum, who teaches composition, literature and creative writing; and Sue Wallis of Recluse, a member of the Wyoming House of Representatives and writer.
Held in partnership with the Wyoming Arts Council, the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation, the contest is a national program that encourages high school students to learn about poetry through memorization, performance and competition. The program helps students master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn about their literary heritage.
This is the third consecutive year that Wyoming has held the "Poetry Out Loud" competition. Josh Schaberg, a senior at Buffalo High School won last year’s competition.
FMI: Wyoming Arts Council at 307-777-7742, or visit http://www.poetryoutloud.org.
