Warsaw Sophomore One Step Closer to National Poetry Contest
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By David [email protected]
She’s one step closer this year after winning the Warsaw Community High School round last week. She moves on to state competition Feb. 25.
“Last year, I won second place (at the WCHS competition). If I don’t win state this year, I will keep trying until I get to nationals,” Malagon, a sophomore, said this morning.
In 2011, Zack Rooker, the WCHS student winner, went on to win the Indiana title. He competed in Washington, but did not make it out of the first round.
The National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation partner with the Indiana Arts Commission to support the Poetry Out Loud competition, according to information on the Indiana government website. It is a free high school program which encourages the nation’s youth to learn about great poetry through memorization and recitation. The program helps high school students master public speaking skills, build self confidence, learn about their literary heritage and compete for college scholarship funding.
Each winner at the state level receives a $200 cash prize and an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C.; $500 for their school to purchase books; and an opportunity to compete at the national finals for college scholarship funds.
The three poems Malagon selected to read in competition were “I’m Offering This Poem” by Jimmy Santiago Baca; “The Enigma” by Anne Stevenson; and “It Was Not Death For I Stood Up” by Emily Dickinson.
“I can see myself in every single one,” Malagon said as to why she chose those three poems.
She said they have so much emotion in them, like love and fear, which are the most important feelings.
Today, Malagon planned to meet with Danielle Roberts to work more on her poetry readings. She said she tries to look at them every day.
Vanessa is the daughter of Juan J. and Elvira Malagon, Warsaw.
For more information on the Poetry Out Loud competition, visit the website www.poetryoutloud.org[[In-content Ad]]
She’s one step closer this year after winning the Warsaw Community High School round last week. She moves on to state competition Feb. 25.
“Last year, I won second place (at the WCHS competition). If I don’t win state this year, I will keep trying until I get to nationals,” Malagon, a sophomore, said this morning.
In 2011, Zack Rooker, the WCHS student winner, went on to win the Indiana title. He competed in Washington, but did not make it out of the first round.
The National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation partner with the Indiana Arts Commission to support the Poetry Out Loud competition, according to information on the Indiana government website. It is a free high school program which encourages the nation’s youth to learn about great poetry through memorization and recitation. The program helps high school students master public speaking skills, build self confidence, learn about their literary heritage and compete for college scholarship funding.
Each winner at the state level receives a $200 cash prize and an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C.; $500 for their school to purchase books; and an opportunity to compete at the national finals for college scholarship funds.
The three poems Malagon selected to read in competition were “I’m Offering This Poem” by Jimmy Santiago Baca; “The Enigma” by Anne Stevenson; and “It Was Not Death For I Stood Up” by Emily Dickinson.
“I can see myself in every single one,” Malagon said as to why she chose those three poems.
She said they have so much emotion in them, like love and fear, which are the most important feelings.
Today, Malagon planned to meet with Danielle Roberts to work more on her poetry readings. She said she tries to look at them every day.
Vanessa is the daughter of Juan J. and Elvira Malagon, Warsaw.
For more information on the Poetry Out Loud competition, visit the website www.poetryoutloud.org[[In-content Ad]]
Have a news tip? Email [email protected] or Call/Text 360-922-3092