Students recite poetry for district prize

Poetry Out Loud winner receives $250, trip to state finals

Gregory Sean Allshouse of Southeast Career and Technical Academy, 5710 Mountain Vista St., recites a poem during the districtwide Poetry Out Loud contest at the West Charleston Library, 6301 W. Charleston Blvd., Jan. 22.Marlene Karas/View Marlene Karas/ViewBen Kistinger of Shadow Ridge High School, 5050 Brent Lane, recites a poem during the districtwide Poetry Out Loud contest. Kistinger recited "Richard Cory" by Edwin Arlington Robinson in the first round and "Poem With One Fact" by Donald Hall in the second round to win first place and a trip to the state finals on March 15. Advertisement

After classes ended on a Tuesday afternoon, local high school students gathered to recite the words of poets. The young adults took command of the stage and said the phrases they had practiced while parents, teachers and judges looked on from their seats in the auditorium.

At the districtwide Poetry Out Loud recitation contest, students were required to recite two poems each from memory. After their performances, judges jotted notes while the contestants waited in the wings for their chance on the brightly lit stage.

"It's very intimidating for these students," said Judy Myers, a coordinator with the Clark County School District's Partnership Program.

Kate Ohene, a student from Bishop Gorman High School and last year's district winner, set the tone of the contest with a powerful dramatization of "Ballad of Birmingham" by Dudley Randall. In all, 24 students participated in the competition held in the lecture hall of the West Charleston Library, 6301 W. Charleston Blvd.

"They picked fabulous poems," Myers said. "It's a tough thing to do. I was really pleased with the difficulty."

Other participants included Alexandra Rawson from Green Valley High, 460 N. Arroyo Grande Blvd., who spoke the words to "Booker T. and W.E.B." by Dudley Randall; Ryan Ramberg from the Northwest Career and Technical Academy, 8200 W. Tropical Parkway, who recited "Shall Earth No More Inspire Thee" by Emily Bronte; and Columba Leyva from the Southeast Career and Technical Academy, 5710 Mountain Vista St., who conveyed "Playing Dead" by Andrew Hudgins to the audience.

"Jabberwocky" by Lewis Carroll was performed three times, making it the most-used poem of the night. Second-place winner Adam Serrano from Shadow Ridge, 5050 Brent Lane, was one of the students who learned it, reciting Carroll's famous work during the second round.

First-place winner Ben Kistinger, also from Shadow Ridge, dramatized "Richard Cory" by Edwin Arlington Robinson during the first round and worked the audience over with "Poem With One Fact" by Donald Hall in the second.

"I thought (Ben) nailed his second poem," Myers said. "He just really had a deep understanding of that poem."

Kistinger received $250 and will advance to the Poetry Out Loud state finals on March 15 at University of Nevada, Reno, in the Redfield Proscenium Theater.

On "Richard Cory," Kistinger said, "I had read it before and really liked the ending. That's why I chose it."

Each winner at the state level will receive $200 and an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., to compete at the national finals. The state winner's school will receive a $500 stipend for the purchase of poetry books.

"I think Ben will represent Clark County fabulously," Myers said.

The Shadow Ridge students were led by teacher Ben Jorgensen, who decided to give the contest a chance this year, making this the school's first time participating.

"My department chair gave me a packet of information and it looked interesting," Jorgensen said. "I showed my class and said 'let's do this.' "

Students in every county in Nevada were invited to participate in the contest, including students attending private, charter and home schools.

Participants were judged on physical presence, voice and articulation, appropriateness of dramatization, level of difficulty, evidence of understanding and overall performance.

Recitations throughout the late afternoon were varied, from the very practiced and calculated to those who forgot their lines. Some participants recited very fast, rushing through, and others added in extended body jerks and arm movements, attempting to enhance their dramatizations.

"It is subjective, even with a rubric," Myers said. "I was really proud of all the kids."

The Poetry Out Loud national recitation contest was created by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation, and the district portion is sponsored by the Clark County School District Partnership Program. This is the third year for the contest in the Clark County School District.