VALLEY CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – Valley City High School held its second Poetry Out Loud competition in the high school theater on Tuesday, January 26. Three seniors, Lilly Kiefert, Alexa Kjelland, and Olivia Slyter, competed for a chance to go to state Poetry Out Loud, which is typically held at the ND State Capitol but will be held virtually this year.
Senior Gabbie Shipp also qualified but chose not to complete in the school level. All students qualified for the school contest by winning classroom rounds in their public speaking courses. At the school contest, contestants recited two poems from memory, and VCSU English students Hannah Dockter, Jaxton Henning, Garrett Fettig, and Jaden Scott served as contest officials.
Poetry Out Loud contestants are scored on physical presence, voice and articulation, dramatic appropriateness, evidence of understanding, and overall performance. Lilly Kiefert was named the school champion and will now memorize one additional poem for the upcoming state competition. From there, one ND student will move on to nationals, which would typically be held in Washington, D.C. but will also be virtual this year.
2021 Contestants (L-R): Olivia Slyter, Alexa Kjelland, and Lilly Kiefert.
2021 School Poetry Out Loud Champion Lilly Kiefert.
(L-R): Student Teacher Jaxton Henning, Contestants Olivia Slyter, Alexa Kjelland, and Lilly Kiefert, English Instructor Kristi Shanenko.
(L-R): English Instructor Kristi Shanenko, VCSU English students Hannah Dockter, Garret Fettig, and Jaxton Henning.
