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Two years ago the National Endowment for
the Arts and the Poetry Foundation began a poetry competition for high
school students to be run in every state by the State Arts Councils.
South Dakota invited the AA schools to participate on a trial basis the
first year. Kayla Jackmon from Sioux Falls Washington was the first
state winner and was a finalist at the national contest in Washington
DC. Last year every high school in South Dakota was invited to
participate in the contest. Schools submitted tapes of their local
winners and a panel of judges chose 9 to participate in the state
contest. The nine schools represented at the state contest were
Brookings High School, Freeman Academy, Howard High School, Milbank High
School, Redfield High School, Sioux Falls Lincoln High School, Sioux
Falls Washington High School, Sisseton High School and Watertown High
School. The state championship was held in Pierre in March of 2007.
Jannell Nickell from Sioux Falls Lincoln was designated as the winner.
She was awarded $200 for placing 1st in the state contest and received
an all-expense paid trip to Washington DC (with a chaperone) at the end
of April. Her school received a $500 award to purchase poetry books.
National finalists receive from $1000 to $20,000. |
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Janessa Nickell a
student at Sioux Falls Lincoln (center) won the first place honor during
the second annual South Dakota Poetry Out Loud contest held in Pierre.
Elizabeth Stigler (left) is a Representative from the Poetry Foundation.
Rosella Blunk (right) is the Poetry Out Loud State Coordinator.
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During the 2007-2008 school year every high school in
South Dakota will again be invited to enter the contest. Schools are
encouraged to have students participate in reciting poetry on the local
level. One representative from each school can be chosen to enter the
state contest. That will be done by submitting a recording which will be
evaluated by a panel of judges in February who will choose the finalists
for the state contest to be held in March. Poetry books, a DVD of
national winners, CDs, posters and a teacher’s guide are all free to
schools.
Contact the state coordinator Rosella Blunk (rosieblunk@yahoo.com) if
you would like to participate or learn more about this exciting new
contest.
Photo Album
2006 Poetry Out Loud
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