SC Arts Commission Press Releases
S.C. High School Students Invited to Take Part in National Competition
Aug. 26, 2009
Media Contacts:
Milly Hough
(803) 734-8698
(803) 734-8620
COLUMBIA, S.C. –The South Carolina Arts Commission, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation, invite South Carolina high schools to take part in the "Poetry Out Loud: National Recitation Contest" during the 2009-2010 school year. High schools can sign up by contacting Frances Kablick at (803) 734-8639 by Oct. 1.
Starting in November, students across the state will begin selecting, memorizing and reciting their favorite poems. Students will progress from classroom to schoolwide contests to compete in one of three regional competitions: Lowcountry, Midlands or Upstate.
Finalists will advance to the state competition on March 20, 2010. The state champion will receive $200, a $500 stipend for the purchase of poetry books for their school library, and an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C., to compete in the NEA's Poetry Out Loud National Finals on April 24-25, 2010. A runner up will also receive $100 and their library will receive a $200 poetry book stipend. The national champion will receive $20,000 and a $500 stipend for the purchase of poetry books for their school library.
Poetry Out Loud satisfies more than half of the NCTE English/Language Arts Standards as well as many of the state standards.Participating schools will receive free classroom materials, optional lesson plans and access to online resources.
Thirty-seven high schools in 22 South Carolina counties participated in last year's Poetry Out Loud: National Recitation Contest. Shannon Laribo from Ashley Hall in Charleston was selected as the 2009 South Carolina Poetry Out Loud champion and represented the state in the 2009 National Finals in Washington, D.C., last April.
Other organizations and individuals partnering with the Arts Commission to carry out this statewide project are the S.C. Literary Arts Partnership, Hub City Writers Project, Lowcountry Initiative for the Literary Arts, Sumter County Cultural Commission, Columbia Museum of Art and Marjory Wentworth, a former S.C. state poet laureate. High schools interested in participating in the 2009 Poetry Out Loud program should contact Frances Kablick, program coordinator of the S.C. Literary Arts Partnership, at (803) 734-8639 by Oct. 1.
About SCAC:
The South Carolina Arts Commission is the state agency charged with creating a thriving arts environment that benefits all South Carolinians, regardless of their location or circumstances. Created by the South Carolina General Assembly in 1967, the Arts Commission works to increase public participation in the arts by providing services, grants and leadership initiatives in three areas: arts education, community arts development and artist development. Headquartered in Columbia, S.C., the Arts Commission is funded by the state of South Carolina, by the federal government through the National Endowment for the Arts and other sources. For more information, visit www.SouthCarolinaArts.com or call (803) 734-8696.
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