Hazleton student wins state Poetry Out Loud competition
PHOTO COURTESY / COMMONWEALTH MEDIA SERVICES - Sulette Lange, right, a junior at Hazleton Area, poses for a photo with her Poetry Out Loud trophy with PA Council On The Arts Executive Director Karl Blischke.
HARRISBURG – A Hazleton Area student was named Pennsylvania’s Poetry Out Loud champion for 2024 on Monday and will represent the Commonwealth in the competition’s national finals.
Sulette Lange, a junior at the Hazleton Area Arts and Humanities Academy, won the state competition, including $200 from the Poetry Foundation and an all expenses-paid trip to the national championship in Washington, D.C. on April 30.
Hazleton Area is also receiving $500 for the purchase of poetry materials.
“Poetry Out Loud supports our Commonwealth’s students’ mastery of critical skills for success in school and the workplace,” said Karl Blischke, PCA Executive Director, in a media release. “On behalf of the Council and staff of the PCA, we congratulate our 14 state competitors for their hard work and accomplishments and extend best wishes to Sulette Lange as she goes on to compete at the national championship.”
At the national finals, a total of $50,000 in awards and school/organizational stipends is awarded annually.
Lange was one of 14 state competitors, who were among more than 3,000 high school students who participated in this year’s competition, with the help and support of teachers/coaches in 73 schools and community organizations across Pennsylvania.
Created by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation, Poetry Out Loud encourages high school students to learn about great poetry through memorization, performance, and competition. The contest is facilitated through the PCA, working with regional partner organizations.
Each student memorized and prepared three poems selected from print and online poetry anthologies. All 14 students performed in the first two rounds of competition, with the top five competing in the third and final round. Students were judged on voice and articulation, physical presence, dramatic appropriateness, evidence of understanding, overall performance, and accuracy.
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