POETRY OUT LOUD: NATIONAL RECITATION CONTEST ILLINOIS STATE CHAMPION ANNOUNCED

Morgan Joyce Williams of Springfield High School was named Illinois Champion of the Poetry Out Loud: National Recitation Contest in the Illinois State Finals held on Friday, March 11, 2011, at the Hoogland Center for the Arts in Springfield. She will advance to the National Finals in Washington, D.C., held April 28 - 29, 2011, along with the winners from every state, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Morgan will receive a $200 prize and Springfield High School will receive $500 for the purchase of poetry books for the school library as a result of her first place finish.

Rapheal Mathis of Plainfield East High School was named Runner-up. He will receive a $100 prize and Plainfield East High School will receive $200 for the purchase of poetry books for the school library.

Three other participants moved to the third and final round of competition. They were Christopher Grimestad of Mt. Zion High School, Ryan Harrison of Edwardsville High School, and Corey Shayman of Deerfield High School.

Eleven (11) other participants in the Illinois State Finals of the Poetry Out Loud contest included Joy Avery of Auburn High School - Freshman Campus in Rockford, Sophia Magro of Champaign Central High School, Henry Martinez of Roberto Clemente Community Academy in Chicago, Bailey Cote of Edwardsville High School, Katie Butler of Herrin High School, Skylar Drummond of Herrin High School, Qaswa Hussaini of Mather High School in Chicago, Nathan Walter of Orion High School, Niambi Thompson of Roosevelt High School in Rockford, Amanda K. Wales of United Township High School in East Moline, and Kahlilah Cooke of University Laboratory High School in Urbana.

Poetry Out Loud in Illinois is a collaborative project of the Illinois Arts Council, and seven arts councils throughout the state which host Regional Contests. The Poetry Out Loud: National Recitation Contest is part of a national program that encourages high school students to learn about great poetry through memorization, performance, and competition. The National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation support this program nation-wide. The Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation is honored to support the travel of students to regional and state contests.

The Springfield Area Arts Council hosted the state contest for the sixth consecutive year.

For information on Poetry Out Loud: National Recitation Contest, visit www.poetryoutloud.org.

For information on the Poetry Out Loud program in Illinois, please contact Illinois Arts Council

(312-814-6750) or Penny Wollan-Kriel, Springfield Area Arts Council (217-753-3519).

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