Four high school students from the Academy of the Holy Names participated in the school final for the Poetry Out Loud National Recitation Contest, presented by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation. Freshman Ashlyn Bradshaw, sophomore Emily Rodriguez, junior Michelle Ebrada and senior Sarah Davis each recited two poems of their choice in front of peers.
To reach the school final, each girl memorized and analyzed a poem, and then presented it in English class. Five students from each grade competed to represent their respective grade in the final round. Each girl was judged on physical presence, voice and articulation, appropriateness of dramatization, level of difficulty, evidence of understanding and overall performance.
Rodriguez was awarded first place for her performances of "Holy Sonnets: Death Be Not Proud" by John Donne, and "Calling Him Back from Layoff" by Bob Hicok. She will compete in the state competition in Tallahassee on March 10, where she will recite three poems. The winner at the state level will receive a cash prize and a trip to Washington, D.C., to compete in the national final in May.
"All of us in the English Department are extremely proud of the stellar performances delivered by these four girls," said Poetry Out Loud coordinator Edie LeBas. "They were outstanding."
From staff reports
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