Four area students compete in national poetry competition

Four Southeast Missouri students competed in the annual Poetry Out Loud Competition at the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri on Saturday.

Poetry Out Loud is a national recitation contest open to all high school students in ninth through 12th grades to help build students' speaking skills, develop their appreciation for poetry and increase their self-confidence, according to the competition's website. Each Missouri school that participated held a local competition and the winners went on to one of 10 regional competitions.

This was the first regional competition for Mariah Griggs, 19, of New Madrid County Central High School, although she has been in three previous local competitions.

"I really enjoy reciting," Griggs said. "I'm pretty passionate about it. Performing in front of people boosts confidence and articulation. It will help me in college and in public speaking."

She won this year's event and a local medal after reciting three poems she selected from the official Poetry Out Loud anthology.

Bradford Hutcheson recites “Invictus” by William Ernest Henley during the Poetry Out Loud regional competition Saturday at the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri in Cape Girardeau. A student at East Prairie High School, Bradford won second place. (Fred Lynch)

Her teacher, Nikki Owens, accompanied her to the regional competition in Cape Girardeau.

There are parameters about the poems each student chooses from the approved anthology, Owens said. "One must be 25 lines or less, and one must be pre-20th century," she said, adding that one of the poems can meet both requirements.

Griggs and other regional winners from around Missouri will compete in Jefferson City on March 21 for the right to go to the national finals in Washington, D.C., and the chance to win a $20,000 college scholarship.

Bradford Hutcheson, 17, of East Prairie High School was awarded second place in this year's competition.

"Last year, I did pretty good," Bradford said. "I recited the same poem ["Invictus" by William Ernest Henley] for the Southeast Missouri Hospital fundraiser held with the arts council last fall."

This was the first year for Luke Williams, 16, of Jackson High School. He was inspired by watching his friend, Lydia Meece, compete last year. She went on to Jefferson City.

"I watched her do so well, looked so composed, saying things purposefully, yet she looked like she was having fun. It gave me the drive and Mr. Clubbs [his teacher] provided the opportunity for me to be here," Luke said.

Abby Ritter, 16, represented Notre Dame Regional High School. This was her first regional competition.

Poetry Out Loud is conducted in all 50 states by the National Endowment for the Arts. The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Missouri Arts Council have partnered to bring the program to Missouri. For more information about the Poetry Out Loud competition, visit missouriartscouncil.org or poetryoutloud.org.

Pertinent address:

32 N. Main St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.