RIDGEFIELD — Ridgefield High School senior Josie Rinta is advancing to the state finals of the annual Poetry Out Loud competition. To qualify for state, Rinta was one of two finalists selected from the regional finals hosted by Educational Service District 112 on Feb. 7.
Regional finals were held virtually and featured poetry recitations from 10 students who qualified for the event by winning individual school competitions. Each regional finalist recorded and submitted two poetry recitations, and a team of Poetry Out Loud judges reviewed and scored each performance. Contestants were evaluated on criteria including physical presence, voice and articulation, dramatic appropriateness, evidence of understanding, accuracy, and overall performance.
Rinta impressed the judges with her recitations of “Sanctuary” by Jean Valentine and “Ode to the Midwest” by Kevin Young.
The competition is presented in partnership with the Washington State Arts Commission, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Poetry Foundation.
More than 300,000 students nationwide took part in Poetry Out Loud last year.
