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South Dakota Arts Council
711 E. Wells Ave
Pierre, SD 57501
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 22, 2007
CONTACT: Michael Pangburn, (605) 773-5507
Poetry Out Loud State Final Competition Results Announced
PIERRE, S.D.- Students from Sioux Falls, Watertown, Brookings, and Howard took top honors at the South Dakota Poetry Out Loud Finals, March 21, at Riggs High Schools Theater in Pierre. Receiving first and second place, respectively, were two Sioux Falls students: Janessa Nickell, representing LincolnHigh School, and Mitch Harms, a student at Washington High School
“This competition is a wonderful way to introduce the arts to high school students across the state,” said Richard Benda, secretary, Department of Tourism and State Development. “One of the goals of the state’s 2010 Initiative is to enhance arts and history as essential to lifelong learning and I think this competition does just that.”
Nine students qualified for the state event by participating in a preliminary competition. During the state contest, each of these students recited 2 poems. The five students with the highest scores advanced to a third round. Cumulative points from all three rounds determined final placements.
Other students winning awards at the statewide competition were Stephanie Deutsch, Watertown, 3rd place; Ben Kantack, Brookings, 4th place; and Senia Hiltunen, Howard, 5th. Rounding out the list of finalists were Alexandra Weber, Milbank; Stephanie Fischer, Sisseton; Naomi Paulson, Redfield; and Abi Epp, Freeman.
As the first place winner, Nickell will receive a $200 cash prize and an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, DC, to compete in the National Finals April 30 – May 1, 2007. Her school, Lincoln High, will receive a $500 stipend for the purchase of poetry books. Runner-up Harms will receive $100; Washington High will be given $200 for its school library.
A distinguished panel of South Dakota poets and theater professionals were judges for the event: David Allan Evans, South Dakota Poet Laureate; Ray Peterson, SDSU Theatre Department; and Lee Ann Roripaugh, award-winning poet and USD faculty member.
Poetry Out Loud is a nationwide poetry competition for high school students initiated and supported by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation. South Dakota Arts Council, South Dakotans for the Arts and South Dakota Public Broadcasting are statewide sponsors of the event.
During 2007, more than $100,000 will be awarded in scholarships to students and grants to schools at state and national levels. These awards include a $20,000 scholarship to the national champion as well as other substantial prizes to finalists in the national competition.
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