(AAPNW-IN) – Chosen from 17 participating finalist from Indiana schools, Indianapolis Broad Ripple High School’s Jordan Mather-Licht took top honors in the 2012 Indiana Poetry Out Loud recitation contest.
State Champion receives a $200 cash prize and an all-expenses paid trip to Washington, D.C. to compete at the National Finals May 13 – 15. The National Championships feature competitors from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, where the finalists for the National Championship will compete for scholarship prizes totaling $50,000, with the National Champion claiming $20,000 in scholarship funding. In addition, the State Champion’s school receives a $500 stipend to purchase poetry books.
Other students participating included: Sean Brown, Pinnacle School, Bloomington; Jessica Caldwell, Columbus Signature Academy New Tech, Columbus; Lydia Costello, La Lumiere School, La Porte; Monica Dollive, Homestead High School, Fort Wayne; Tyler Hutchinson, Pike High School, Indianapolis; Abigail Jackson, Columbus Christian School, Columbus; Amanda Jacob, Forest Park Jr./Sr. High School, Ferdinand; Stephanie Johnson, Floyd Central High School, Floyds Knobs; Aaron Lucky, Anderson Preparatory Academy, Anderson; Conner Maginn, Madison Consolidated High School, Madison; Vanessa Malagon, Warsaw Community High School, Indianapolis; Shelby Marshall, Warren Central High School, Indianapolis; Kate Peters, Plymouth High School, Plymouth; Franklyn Salzman, Carmel High School, Carmel; Nicole Schapker, Signature School, Evansville; and Donovan Whitney, Lawrence North High School, Indianapolis.
Sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the Poetry Foundation, the National Poetry Out Loud is designed to encourage youth to learn about great poetry through memorization and performance, which helps students master public speaking skills, build self-esteem, and internalize an appreciation for American literary heritage.