Simone Seal, a senior from Padua Academy, won Delaware’s Poetry Out Loud state competition on April 11, 2006 held at the Schwartz Center for the Arts in Dover. Reciting “Still I Rise,” by Maya Angelou” and “Bitch” by Carolyn Kizer she received the top score from the judges for her ability to convey the meaning of her selected poems. She will go on to the national competition in Washington, D.C. along with students representing every other state.

Governor Ruth Ann Minner spoke about the importance of poetry and its role in education and presented the awards to the winning students. Poet Laureate Fleda Brown, who served as one of the judges, told the students that “learning by heart someone else’s words takes us inside that person’s mind, and out of our own mind far enough to stretch our sense of what’s possible.” The students selected and memorized poems ranging from Shakespeare to Langston Hughes, and with drama and emotion, the students brought the poets’ words to life.

Two other students were also recognized for their performances. Ashley Douglas, a, senior from Concord High School was first runner-up and Erin Winner, a junior from Cab Calloway School for the Arts was second runner-up.

Delaware State Competition, Tuesday, April 11,  2006 at 7:00 p.m., Schwartz Center for the Arts, Dover, Delaware

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