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Want to participate in the Eastern Illinois Poetry Out Loud program in 2009-2010? Email Steven Bentz, 40 North Director of Operations, at sbentz@40north.org.
Poetry Out Loud - Eastern Illinois Region
March 10, 2009
Kareem Sayegh, a student at University High School in Urbana, Illinois was named Illinois Champion of the 2009 Poetry Out Loud: National Recitation Contest in the Illinois State Finals held on Tuesday, March 10, 2009 at the Hoogland Center for the Arts in Springfield. The contest was hosted by the Springfield Area Arts Council (Christina Steelman, Executive Director; Penny Wollan-Kriel, Assistant Director).
As Illinois Champion, Sayegh will advance to the Poetry Out Loud National Finals in Washington, D.C., along with the winners from every U.S. state, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. As a result of his first place finish in Illinois, Kareem will receive a $200 cash prize, while University High School will receive $500 for the purchase of poetry books for its school library. Kareem also receives an all-expenses-paid trip with a parent or teacher to Washington D.C. to compete at the national championship being held April 26-28, 2009.
Halstead Coleman-Selby of Edwardsville High School was named Runner-up at the State of Illinois Finals. He will receive a $100 prize and his high school will receive $200 for the purchase of poetry books for its school library. Three other participants moved to the third and final round of the Illinois state competition on March 10. They were Heidy A. Alvarado of Taft High School in Chicago, Jourdin Batchelor of Carbondale Community High School and Ryan Harrison of Edwardsville High School.
The eleven other participants in the Illinois State Poetry Out Loud Finals included Samantha Porter of Paxton-Buckley-Loda High School, Roslynn Baker of Springfield Southeast High School, Dana Castillo of Maine East High School in Park Ridge, Angie Fisher of Herrin High School, CeCe Frey of Mt. Zion High School, Lise Graham of Lyons Township High School in Western Springs, Beth Hopkins and Alex Peterson of Spectrum High School in Rockford, David Koffi of Moline High School, Annette Putnam of Orion High School, and Kelsey Waxman of Northside Prep High School in Chicago.
A total of $50,000 in awards and school stipends will be awarded at the National Finals being held in Washington D.C., with the first place champion receiving a $20,000 college scholarship.
The Poetry Out Loud: National Recitation Contest is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation, acting in partnership with arts agencies throughout the United States. In Illinois, Poetry Out Loud is administered by the Illinois Arts Council with the help of seven regional arts agencies. 40 North | 88 West — Champaign County’s Arts, Culture and Entertainment Council —administers the program for the eastern Illinois region.
Poetry Out Loud is a free program for high schools that includes both a planned curriculum and a contest element which encourages students to learn about great poetry through memorization, performance, and competition. It uses a pyramid structure that begins at the classroom level, with contest winners advancing to school-wide competitions, then to a regional competition, then to a state competition, and ultimately to the National Finals.
To inquire about participating in the 2009-2010 Poetry Out Loud contest in eastern Illinois, email Steven Bentz, 40 North Director of Operations, at sbentz@40north.org.
Eastern Illinois Regional Poetry Out Loud Final
In eastern Illinois, 40 North conducted its Regional Finals for the 2009 Poetry Out Loud Contest in late February of this year. The judges at the Regional Final were Anna Hochhalter, Public Arts Coordinator for the City of Urbana; Janet Soesbe, Program Manager at the Urbana Park District; and Michael La Due, a poet and member of the Champaign City Council. The winners of the regional contest were Samantha Porter (First Place) of Paxton-Buckley-Loda High School and Kareem Sayegh (Runner Up) of University High School, Urbana. As winners of the Eastern Regional Poetry Out Loud Contest, both Samantha and Kareem advanced to the State of Illinois contest held in Springfield on March 10.
The other contestants at the Regional Final were: Monica Jarboe of Paxton-Buckley-Loda High School, Claire Liu of University High School, Urbana, Jamechia Ray of Ready High School, Champaign and Trenika Washington of Ready High School, Champaign.
More about Poetry Out Loud
Poetry Out Loud encourages youth to learn about great poetry through memorization and performance. Teachers from all around the country have found this free program helps students master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn about their literary heritage.
Poetry Out Loud curriculum materials include print and online poetry anthologies, a teacher’s guide to help instructors teach recitation and performance, an audio CD featuring distinguished actors and writers, promotional and media guides, and a comprehensive website — all aligned to national standards and designed to augment their regular curriculum. Hard copies of all materials are free for schools participating in the program. To learn more about Poetry Out Loud in eastern Illinois, contact Steven Bentz at 40 North: 217-351-9841 or sbentz@40north.org.
The program will enter its fifth year during the 2009 – 2010 academic year.
“When I imagine students from our school sitting up at night reading over poem after poem searching for the one that strikes a cord with them, I smile and am thankful we adopted this program. I recall the nervous sophomore girl stepping in front of the class and morphing into Carl Sandburg reciting ‘Chicago’ with a confidence I didn’t know she possessed. These are the benefits of the Poetry Out Loud program that have changed the way I teach poetry.” — Craig Lawrence, Wheaton Warrenville South High School English teacher whose student, Mark Schmidt, was the 2008 Poetry Out Loud Illinois State Champion
Further Contact Information:
Poetry Out Loud: National Recitation Contest: www.poetryoutloud.org
Illinois Arts Council: 312-814-6750, http://www.state.il.us/agency/IAC/
Springfield Area Arts Council: (Penny Wollan-Kriel) 217-753-3519, pwk@springfieldartsco.org
40 North | 88 West - Champaign County Arts, Culture & Entertainment Council
With a mission of cultivating creativity in Champaign County, 40 North | 88 West is dedicated to fueling the growth and well-being of our creative community by nurturing its arts, culture, and entertainment. Through information, advocacy and collaboration, 40 North empowers artists, arts organizations, businesses and the community at large. For more, visit www.40north.org.
This program is supported in part by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.