2013 Poetry Out Loud Finals

State Finals

Jordan McMillan, a freshman from Sanford School, won Delaware’s Poetry Out Loud state competition on March 6, 2013, held at the Smyrna Opera House. McMillan’s recitations of “For the young who want to,” by Marge Piercy, “Calling Him Back from Layoff,” by Bob Hicok and “Grief,” by Elizabeth Barrett Browning earned her high marks with the judges. The first runner-up was Ryan Youngdale from Mt. Sophia Academy, and the second runner-up was Hannah Glavin from Wilmington Christian School.

For her winning presentation, Jordan will receive $200 and an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, DC, with a chaperone to compete for the national championship April 28-30, 2013. Sanford School will receive a $500 stipend for the purchase of poetry books. Ryan Youngdale, the first runner-up will receive $100, and $200 goes to Mt. Sophia Academy for the purchase of poetry books.

Prestwick House, Inc., provided additional prizes of $100 to the winner, and gift bags for the twelve sponsoring teachers of students in the state finals that included a coupon for $50 off classroom supplies, a travel coffee mug, and a book of poems. Walmart provided $25 gift cards for all twelve student finalists. At the National Finals, The Poetry Foundation will be awarding up to $50,000 in scholarships and school stipends, with a $20,000 college scholarship awarded to the Poetry Out Loud National Champion.

The state Poetry Out Loud competition, sponsored by the Delaware Division of the Arts in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation, is part of a national program that encourages high school students to learn about great poetry through memorization, performance, and competition.