Poetry Out Loud 2010

BreAnna Jones wins Washington Title for the Third Time

BreAnna Jones, a senior at West Valley High School in Yakima won the Poetry Out Loud Washington State Final on Saturday, March 20th. Twelve students from across the state competed at the Kenneth J. Minnaert Center for the Performing Arts for the opportunity to participate in the National Finals in Washington D.C.

 

Watch videos, of BreAnna and other contestants, from the 2010 Washington State Poetry Out Loud Finals.

 

BreAnna Jones, 2010 winner of the Washington State Poetry Out Loud finals. Photo by Courtney Kelley..

This is the third year that BreAnna has won the Washington State title. She will receive a $200 prize, and an all-expenses-paid trip (with a chaperone) to compete in the National Finals in Washington, DC, on April 25-27, 2010. Her school is awarded $500 for the purchase of poetry books.

 

After the event, BreAnna said, “I am so blessed to have another opportunity to compete at nationals. It blows my mind that all of this came from a simple sophomore English assignment. The past years have taught me key techniques that are going to make all the difference at nationals. This year, I’ve worked harder than ever and I’m hoping my work will pay off. I can’t wait!”

 

Madison Hamel, a senior from Puyallup High School, won $100 and a $200 stipend for her school. Three students received honorable mentions: Mariah Boring, a sophomore from Wilson High School in Tacoma; Vanessa Serrano, a sophomore from Camas High School; and Quinton Selvidge, a senior from Kingston High School.   

 

Student Contestants

Mariah Boring, Woodrow Wilson High School, Tacoma

Crystal Flores, Selah High School, Selah

Madison Hamel, Puyallup High School, Puyallup

Abby Hawkes, Mead High School, Spokane

Rika Inouye, Shorewood High School, Shoreline

BreAnna Jones, West Valley High School, Yakima

Micah Meadowcroft, Cedar Tree Classical Christian School, Vancouver

Eloise Ryser, Olympia High School, Olympia

Quinton Selvidge, Kingston High School, Kingston

Vanessa Serrano, Camas High School, Camas

Cole Timm, Okanogan High School, Okanogan

Ellen Wise, Stanwood High School, Stanwood

 

Participating Schools

Eastern Washington

Okanogan County: Okanogan High School
Spokane County: CBE Alternative Programs, Central Valley High School, Deer Park High School, East Valley High School, Havermale High School, Mead High School, Phoenix Alternative School

 

Central Washington

Grant County: Wahluke High School
Yakima County: A.C. Davis High School, East Valley High School, Eisenhower High School, Naches High School, Selah High School, Sunnyside High School, West Valley High School

 

Southwest Washington

Clark County: Camas High School, Cedar Tree Classical Christian School, Hayes Freedom High School, Vancouver School of Arts and Academics

Cowlitz County: Kelso High School

Skamania: Stevenson High School

 

Puget Sound

King County: Hillside Student Community School, Kentridge High School, Leota Junior High School, Shorewood High School

Pierce County: Eatonville High School, Franklin Pierce High School, Lincoln High School, Mount Tahoma High School, Peninsula High School, Puyallup High School, Stadium High School, Woodrow Wilson High School
Thurston County: Olympia High School, Rainier High School, Tenino High School

 

Northwest Washington

Island County: Coupeville High School

Kitsap County: Kingston High School
Skagit County: Anacortes High School, Burlington Edison High School, Concrete High School
Whatcom County: Ferndale High School, Sehome High School

 

Program Sponsors and Partners

Poetry Out Loud, a national arts education program that encourages the study of great poetry, is sponsored by the Washington State Arts Commission, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), and the Poetry Foundation.

 

Washington's Poetry Out Loud program is also supported through regional partnerships with Eastern Washington University, Allied Arts of Yakima Valley, New Blue Parrot Productions, and Educational Service District 189.

 

For more information about the state finals contact poetry.out.loud@arts.wa.gov or call 360-586-1270.