Schools

West Orange High Senior Wins Poetry Out Loud Finals Competition, Advances to Regional

Winner Shreya Anand will represent the high school at the regional Poetry Out Loud competition on Feb. 5

The winner of the annual Poetry Out Loud competition at West Orange High School was senior Shreya Anand. The competition was held Wednesday and included 12 students from grades nine to 12 competing to the represent West Orange High in regional competition at the South Orange Performing Arts Center on Feb. 5.

Finalists had to memorize and orally deliver two poems, one contemporary and one written by a pre-20th century poet.  The top three scorers after two rounds went on to a final round and recited a third poem.

Anand recited "Pastoral Dialogue," by Anne Kiligrew, "Thirteen Ways to Look at a Blackbird" by Wallace Stevens, and "Planetarium" by Adrienne Rich.

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Master of Ceremonies for the event was Ms. Tynia Thomassie, former WOHS AP Literature, and Public Speaking teacher and Advisor to Escriptus, the West Orange High School chapter of the National English Society who hosted the event. Ms. Thomassie brought the Poetry Out Loud competition to West Orange High School three years ago and continues to produce the award winning program. 

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West Orange High School finalists previously won the New Jersey Poetry Out Loud State Competition in 2011 and ranked first runner up in 2012.


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