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Community Corner

SIX ALAMEDA COUNTY STUDENTS ADVANCE TO THE ALAMEDA COUNTY POETRY OUT LOUD COMPETITION

 

Poetry Out Loud is a national recitation competition that features students performing great works of poetry from memory. 



Six Alameda County high school students from Oakland Military Institute, Holy Names High School in Oakland; Amador, and Foothill in Pleasanton; Dublin, and Livermore high schools will compete for the Alameda County Poetry Out Loud title and one student will represent Alameda Countyt at the State Championship. Poetry Out Loud is a national recitation competition that features students performing great works of poetry from memory.

Oakland native Cotys Winston-Sandefur is a senior at Holy Names High School in Oakland where she is involved in Speech and Debate, and Campus Ministry. She enjoys community service, specifically working at Dorothy’s Place in Salinas, CA.

Sophomore Dylan Romero was born in Berkeley and lives in Oakland, CA. His hobbies include playing sports: basketball, soccer, football, and running in the park. He strives for academic excellence in all his classes. 

Pleasanton’s Teen Poet Laureate, Niveditha Raghavan, a senior at Amador Valley High School, is a fourth-year participant in Alameda County Poetry Out Loud. Nive said, “I am thankful for the program for giving me the opportunity to explore poetry and to inspire me to write my own poetry.”

Bryce Hwang, a senior at Foothill High School says, “My favorite poets are Lord Byron and Dylan Thomas, and my favorite poem is Henley’s Invictus.” 

Hannah Keihl at Dublin High School Junior is a passionate performer; she has participated in many dramatic productions, improv shows, and this is her second venture into Poetry Out Loud. Her passion for language in all its forms has her considering an English degree once she graduates from high school.

Representing Livermore High School is senior Brooke Bistline who says she has ”a passion for the arts, whether it be acting on stage, performing original music, or public speaking.” She never wants to leave behind her art and music, but rather hopes to incorporate them in her journey through life.

Students face a panel of five judges, who look for accuracy, confidence, delivery and articulation as they evaluate the contestants, said Maureen Hurley, program coordinator for Alameda County Poetry Out Loud. 

The six school champions advanced to the countywide competition from a field of more than 9,300 students. 

Wednesday’s winner will represent Alameda County in the statewide Poetry Out Loud competition set for March 23 and 24 in the Senate Chambers in the State Capitol in Sacramento. The California state champion will advance to the national finals in Washington, D.C.

Student champions from six Alameda county high schools including Oakland Military Institute and Holy Names High School in Oakland will compete for the Poetry Out Loud recitation competition in Oakland on Wednesday, Feb. 19.
The event will be held at the Alameda County Arts Commission offices on 1401 Lakeside Drive, in Oakland, from 4:30 to 6 PM., and it is open to the public and free of charge.

Alameda County Poetry Out Loud competition is underwritten by the Alameda County Arts Commission, the Alameda County Poetry Out Loud Team, California Poets in the Schools, the California Arts Council, the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation.

For more information, call 510-271-5162 or visit www.acgov.org/arts
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