Poetry Out Loud Finalists

Sonora, CA — The Central Sierra Arts Council held its 5th annual Tuolumne Couty Poetry Out Loud finals. Program coordinator BZ Smith says, “What a wonderful night! Congratulations to all our poets!”

Ten local high school level students competed. Third place went to Summerville’s Gaby Icardo. Second place when to Cornerstone Home School’s Ellie Britton, and first place went to Connections Academy’s Teresa Woods. Four Sonora High school students also competed as well as students from Tioga High School.

Tuolumne County’s First Place Winner last year, Jonathan Bermea of Sonora High School, went on to take third place overall at the state level. That News Story “Sonora Student Ranks High” is here.

Poetry Out Loud is a national poetry recitation contest, presented by the Poetry Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts. Locally it is presented by Central Sierra Arts Council and the California Arts Council, working in cooperation with local high schools.

California’s Poetry Out Loud state competition takes place on March 25th in the Senate Chambers of the California State Capitol in Sacramento. For more information visit http://www.poetryoutloud.org