MARIPOSA COUNTY — Recently, eleven high school students from across Mariposa County the took stage to compete in the county final of the Poetry Out Loud National Recitation Contest. This contest is a prestigious arts education initiative that fosters a love for poetry through memorization, performance, and competition.
About the Contest
The contest, open to students in grades 9 through 12, is part of the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Poetry Foundation. To participate, students would select and memorize three poems from the official Poetry Out Loud anthology. Then, they recite their chosen pieces in front of a panel of judges, who evaluate them based on multiple key criteria. These criteria include physical presence, voice and performance, and accuracy. Ultimately, only the top ten performances from a school-wide contest advance to the county final.
Champion Crowned, State Finals Await
Winner of Poetry out Loud Contest, Spirit DeWitt.
At the end of the evening, Spirit DeWitt emerged as this year’s County Champion. Spirit captivated the judges with recitations of:
- The Layers by Stanley Kunitz
- The Days Gone By by James Whitcomb Riley
- Playthings by Rabindranath Tagore
As a result, the young poet’s outstanding performances earned high marks across all categories. Consequently, Spirit will now advance to the California State Finals, which will be held in Sacramento this March.
Meanwhile, the competition also saw impressive performances from Huyana Lawrence and Jasmine Martinez, who secured the runner-up positions. Although they did not win the top prize, their dedication and delivery were remarkable.
A Community Effort
The Mariposa County Poetry Out Loud competition is organized annually by the Mariposa County Arts Council. In the weeks leading up to the contest, students worked diligently with their teachers, Brooke Dobson and Kate Hall. Additionally, they benefited from coaching by local poet Megan Levad Beisner, author of Why We Live in the Dark Ages and What Have I to Say to You.
Furthermore, the judging panel for this year’s competition featured experts Amanda White, Andra Kovacs, Maureen McCormick, and Sunny Braselton. They carefully evaluated each performance to determine the county’s top poetry reciter.
The Power of Poetry
Notably, the Poetry Out Loud program is supported by the County of Mariposa, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the California Arts Council. Because of this support, the initiative continues to inspire young people to engage in poetry in meaningful ways. Through literature, performance, and competition, the program inspires a greater appreciation for poetry. It also builds confidence and improves public speaking abilities.
As Spirit DeWitt prepares to represent Mariposa County at the state level, the local community eagerly celebrates the passion and dedication of all the students who participated. Their efforts ultimately demonstrate that poetry remains a powerful and relevant art form for today’s youth.
