ALASKA STATE COUNCIL ON THE ARTS
& JUNEAU ARTS & HUMANITIES COUNCIL ANNOUNCE
TONG THAO AS THE 2013 POETRY OUT LOUD ALASKA STATE CHAMPION

Watch The Alaska Poetry Out Loud State Finals on 360 North on March 30th, 2013 at 8pm, or watch it online (see below).

See the 10 Alaska finalists talk about their experience here

Photos from the State Finals (by Seanna O’Sullivan Photography)

Tong Thao of Colony High School in Palmer, Alaska, recites “History Lesson” by Natasha Trethewey during the Poetry Out Loud Alaska State Finals Tuesday, March 19, 2013 at the Juneau Arts and Cultural Center in Juneau, Alaska. Thao is the winner of the 2013 Poetry Out Loud Alaska State Finals. (Seanna O’Sullivan Photography)

Rising to the top of a competitive pool of more than 4,000 students across the state, Tong Thao from Colony High School in Palmer, Alaska, received the title of 2013 Poetry Out Loud Alaska State Champion at the state finals held at the Juneau Arts & Culture Center on March 19, 2013. The first runner-up was Brittni Tully from Revilla Alternative High School in Ketchikan. Tong’s final recitation was I Remember, I Remember, a reflective poem reminiscing on a bright childhood viewed in the light of a darker “now,” by the British 19th century humorist and poet Thomas Hood.

“Poetry Out Loud has really helped me feel more comfortable speaking in front of an audience,” said Tong Thao. “I have to say, the State Finals was one of the best experiences of my life so far. I have met so many inspiring people who enjoy poetry just as much as I do. And being announced the Alaska State Champion was shocking because I had never thought I would make it to the national finals, much less the state finals. Poetry Out Loud has opened doors for me, and I would recommend any high school students to take part in it, whether it’s to challenge themselves or just for the love of poetry. Poetry Out Loud is PRODIGIOUS.”

Poetry Out Loud is a national arts education program that encourages the study of great poetry by offering educational materials and a dynamic recitation competition to high schools across the country. Beginning at the classroom level, winners advance to a school-wide competition, then to a regional competition and the state competition. Ultimately, state winners travel all expenses paid to the National Finals in Washington, DC. Over 365,000 students from more than 2,000 American high schools took part in the 2011–2012 Poetry Out Loud program.

At the state finals in Juneau, which were telecast and streamed live by 360 North, contestants recited works they selected from an anthology of more than 650 classic and contemporary poems. The anthology, a website (www.poetryoutloud.org), a teacher’s guide, and media samples of poetry recitation were created by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation as free resources for high school students and teachers.

Brittni Tully of Ketchikan’s Revilla Alternative High School, recites “Jabberwocky” by Lewis Carroll during the Poetry Out Loud Alaska State Finals Tuesday, March 19, 2013 at the Juneau Arts and Cultural Center in Juneau, Alaska. Tully is the runner up for the National competition taking place in Washington DC. (Photo by Seanna O’Sullivan Photography)

The Alaska State Champion Tong Thao received an award of $200 and an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, DC, to compete for the national championship. Tong’s school, Colony High, in the Mat-Su school district, received a $500 stipend to purchase poetry books. First runner-up Brittni Tully received $100, with $200 for her school library. The eight other Alaska State Finalists were: Natalia Spengler from Juneau Douglas High School, Juneau; Samantha Saige Thomas from Chugiak High School, Chugiak; Sarina Montgomery from Lathrop High School, Fairbanks; Hazel Underwood from Kenny Lake School, Kenny Lake; Mark Sawyer Gillilan from IDEA – Region K, Kenai; Thaddeus Steve from Tukurngailnguq School, Stebbins; Annemarie Pike from Sitka High School, Sitka; and Andrea Irrigoo from Nome, representing Kodiak High School, Kodiak.

Guest judges presided over the competition, including writer, photographer, musician and conservationist Kim Heacox of Gustavus; playwright and screenwriter Dave Hunsaker of Juneau; author Lynn Schooler of Juneau; Assistant Professor of Creative Writing Emily Wall of Juneau; retired high school English teacher, radio broadcaster and journalist JoAnn Ross Cunningham of Haines; as well as Juneau CPA and partner with Elgee Rehfeld Mertz Bridget Lujan who served as the Accuracy Judge. Judges evaluated student performances on criteria including physical presence, evidence of understanding, level of difficulty, and accuracy.

Our 2013 Alaska Poetry Out Loud State Finalists. (Photo by Seanna O’Sullivan Photography)

While in Juneau, the contestants visited the University of Alaska Southeast Campus, met with their Legislators and toured the Governor’s House.

Poetry Out Loud seeks to foster the next generation of literary readers by building on the resurgence of poetry as an oral art form. Through Poetry Out Loud, students master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn about their literary heritage. Now in its eighth year of national competition, Poetry Out Loud has inspired hundreds of thousands of high school students to discover classic and contemporary poetry. To find out how to get involved in the Poetry Out Loud National Recitation Contest, visit www.poetryoutloud.org.

WATCH THE WHOLE 2013 ALASKA STATE FINALS HERE

2012-2013 (LAST YEAR’s) TIMELINE:

Oct 15, 2012: REGISTRATION DEADLINE
Jan 17, 2013: Rural School Competitions completed
Jan 18, 2013: Postmark deadline: Mail videos of rural school winners to POL Coordinator in Juneau*
Feb 8, 2013: Deadline – All regional competitions must be completed
Feb 11, 2013: Deadline – All state finalist names to Juneau
March 19, 2013: Alaska POL Recitation Contest in Juneau
March 22, 2013: Deadline – State Winner to register for National Competition
Apr 29-30, 2013: National POL Recitation Contest in Washington, DC

High school teachers who are interested in participating in Poetry Out Loud should know that the program satisfies most of the NCTE English Language Arts Standards. The curriculum for Poetry Out Loud has been designed to fit into a teacher’s busy schedule. The program takes place over the span of 2 to 3 weeks, according to each teacher’s interest and agenda, and it does not require full class periods. The program may be incorporated with existing poetry units. High schools that wish to be part of the official Poetry Out Loud program must register online (registration form will be published by Aug 15) to participate. The Alaska State Council on the Arts will determine which schools are eligible to take part in the official Poetry Out Loud program. Schools that are not in the official program may conduct their own contests using the online resources.

The National Poetry Out Loud web site has many tools for use by schools whether or not they participate in the recitation competition: http://poetryoutloud.org/

ALASKA POETRY OUT LOUD TOOLKIT

Alaska Poetry Out Loud 2012-2013 Registration Form
Poetry Out Loud Video Guide Lines and Submission form for Rural Schools
2012-2013 POL Teacher’s Guide
Online Anthology
List of INELIGIBLE Poems for 2013 Contest
Poetry Out Loud Tips for recitation

Quick Links
National Poetry Out Loud Website
Poetry Foundation Website – Search for and read full poems here

Alaska POL – Historical
Press Release – Alaska Teen Participates in Poetry Out Loud 2012
Press Release – Aryeh Lax Wins POL 2012 AK State Finals
Press Release – 2012 Alaska POL Finalists Announced
Press Release – Lakeidra Chavis wins POL 2011 AK State Finals

For more information about the Alaska POL Program contact Kari Groven at 907-586-2787 or pol@jahc.org

Poetry Out Loud is a collaborative project of the

Juneau Arts and Humanities Council (JAHC)