For Immediate Release: March 8, 2008
Contact: Jeff Morgan
Public Relations
515.281.3858
Jeff.Morgan@iowa.gov
Roland-Story High School student crowned state poetry champion
Emily Mortvedt earns trip to National Finals in Washington, DC
(DES MOINES, Iowa)— Emily Mortvedt of Roland-Story High School won the 2008 Poetry Out Loud in Iowa contest today at the State Historical Building, edging out 13 other competitors from across the state.
Mortvedt recited “A Psalm of Life” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, “Time Does Not Bring Relief: You All Have Lied” by Edna St. Vincent Millay, and “Love (III)” by George Herbert, to earn the victory.
The Roland-Story senior will receive $200, a $500 check for her school and an all-expense paid trip to Washington, DC, to compete against state winners from across the country in the Poetry Out Loud National Finals April 28-29, 2008 at George Washington University. The National Finals will award $50,000 in college scholarships and school prizes, including a $20,000 college scholarship to the national winner.
Poetry Out Loud is a nationwide program sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation.
Mortvedt, daughter of Tim and Deb Mortvedt, said she was excited “but really nervous because this was a great opportunity to compete here in this beautiful building.”
She said the poems she performed today keep her connected to the memory of her brother, Sam, who died in a 2003 car accident.
“I picked these poems because they narrate my life and reflect things that are very personal to me,” she said.
Mortvedt’s teacher, Denise Biechler, said today’s contest is a confirmation of the role poetry can play in students’ lives.
“We discuss memory and recitation in class, and some students would prefer to read from notes,” Biechler said. “But poetry can’t get inside you unless you’ve memorized it. That’s when it can have context and meaning and that’s what we saw Emily convey in her performance today.”
This year’s contest marks an expansion of the pilot phase launched three years ago, in which the NEA and the Poetry Foundation conducted contests in Washington, DC, and Chicago involving more than 4,000 students. This year, more than 200,000 students from across the nation competed at the classroom and school levels.
Poetry Out Loud seeks to foster the next generation of literary readers by capitalizing on the latest trends in poetry – recitation and performance. The program builds on the resurgence of poetry as an oral art form as seen in the slam poetry movement and the immense popularity of rap music among youth.
“We are proud to facilitate and coordinate the Poetry Out Loud contest in Iowa,” said Cyndi Pederson, director of the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs. “Poetry Out Loud gives students the opportunity to build self-confidence and master public speaking skills that will stay with them the rest of their lives.”
NEA and the Poetry Foundation provide state arts agencies with free, standards-based curriculum materials for use by participating schools. These materials include print and on-line poetry anthologies, a program guide to help instructors teach recitation and performance, and an audio CD. For more information about Poetry Out Loud, visit www.poetryoutloud.org.
Shaquita Welch of Ankeny’s Northview Middle School earned second place and Saulaman Schlegel of Des Moines North High School took third place in today’s contest. Other semi-finalists included Alyssa Gourd of Des Moines Hoover High School and Kate Vukovich of West Des Moines Valley High School.
Iowa’s past state champions are Ashley Baccam of Des Moines East in 2006 and Spencer Gilbert of West Des Moines Valley in 2007.
Other students who competed in today’s contest include:
(City/Town, Student, School, Teacher)
Churdan, Sarah Thompson, Paton-Churdan Community, Melissa Johnson
Des Moines, Ronnie McConnell, Lincoln High School, Linda Schlak
Lake Park, Mitchell Tiedeman, Harris Lake Park Community, Mary Brandt
Marcus, Hunter Heidesch, MMC High School, Karen Swinger
Mondamin, Jeena Gochenour, West Harrison CSD, Madylon Perley
Newton, Melissa Truinstra, Newton High School, Margaret Caldwell
Norwalk, Alyson Browder, Norwalk High School, Martha Davis
Perry, Jessica Phillips, Perry High School, Wendy Bollhoefer
Sigourney, Felicia Maule, Sigourney High School, Jessica Weinreich
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The Iowa Arts Council is a division of the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs and works to enrich the quality of life and learning in Iowa communities by encouraging excellence in the arts through leadership, grants and technical assistance. Funding for the Iowa Arts Council and its programs is provided by the State of Iowa and the National Endowment for the Arts. More information about IAC is available at www.iowaartscouncil.org.