Mepham Students Bring Poetry to Life

Mepham High School students recently brought poetry to life during the Seventh Annual Poetry Out Loud National Recitation Contest. 

Poetry Out Loud is a national contest that encourages the study of great poetry through memorization, performance and competition.

More than 500 students competed in their individual English classes, with class winners progressing to the school-wide competition.

Two winners then move on to a regional competition, followed by a state competition and ultimately the national finals in Washington, D.C.

Senior Arianna Miller earned first-place honors for her performance of Robert Frost’s “After Apple-Picking” while  Junior Alyssa Rabinowitz recited Eleanor Wilner’s “Without Regret” for the second-place spot.

Sophomore Miranda Sass took third place with her presentation of David Wagoner’s “Their Bodies.”

“This competition is a wonderful cultural event to help our students learn how to memorize poetry, express emotion and convey emotion to an audience,”  Marie Netto, chairperson of the English department said. 

Three years ago, Mepham’s winner, Steven Tsai, was the 2011 New York State Poetry Out Loud Champion.