Students advance to statewide poetry competition

MEADOW HOMES — Educational Service District 112 held its annual Poetry Out Loud competition on Jan. 22. Out of eight regional competitors, two local high school students were selected as the winners: Yeshi Berry of Vancouver School of Arts and Academics, and Amy Eells of Battle Ground High School. The competition is presented in partnership with the Washington State Arts Commission, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Poetry Foundation. It’s a part of a national program that encourages high school students to learn about great poetry through memorization, performance, and competition. At ESD 112, students recited works from an anthology of more than 700 classic and contemporary poems. Judges evaluated performances on voice and articulation, evidence of understanding, and accuracy. Recording of the readings can be viewed on the TV ETC YouTube channel: youtu.be/BtClAgwwHz4. The ESD 112 winners will advance to the state Poetry Out Loud contest on March 7 in Tacoma. The state champion will then advance to the Poetry Out Loud National Finals April 27-29, in Washington, D.C., where they have a shot at $50,000 in awards. To learn more, visit www.poetryoutloud.org.