Gabrys and Wilder to represent Chugiak at POL district competition
Photo Credit: M. Mielke
Senior Paul Gabrys and junior Jessica Wilder will represent CHS at the Poetry Out Loud Competition in January.
December 10, 2009 • Meg Mielke, Editor
Filed under 2009-2010
On December 1, Chugiak High School held its fifth annual Poetry Out Loud Recitation Contest where the preliminary winners competed against other competitors from different classes across the school.
English teacher Kathie Steele began the contest with her introduction of the board of judges: librarian Carol Eby, disciplinary principal Colette Marshall and French teacher Chris Rees. Steele then went on to praise all competitors and nicely boast about Chugiak High School’s illustrious Poetry Out Loud history with a tradition of high marks at the district and state level.
Twelve competitors recited a poem of 25 lines or fewer for the first round. The competitors included: Allison Baumgartner, Kaye Berg, Samantha Byrd, Paul Gabrys, Kelsey Johnson, Maegan Lange, Victoria Lomen, Robert Meyer, Alex Pifer, Brett Schimmack, Tasha Schwenne and Jessica Wilder.
There was then a break in the competition where the judges deliberated and the audience was entertained by a guest poet, retired English, newspaper and yearbook adviser, Gretchen Wehmhoff, who read a few of her original poems as well as a favorite Shel Silverstein poem. The final six were then announced; Paul Gabrys, Kelsey Johnson, Maegan Lange, Victoria Lomen, Tasha Schwenne and Jessica Wilder would continue to the next round to recite a poem of their choice.
The final poems ranged in length and topic among all competitors, from the sarcastic “Progressive Health” recited by Gabrys to the passionate “The Redeemer” recited by Lomen.
After the top competitors recited their poems, the competition again halted as the judges chose the top two competitors. English teacher Sally Jo Cook recited a few comical Shel Silverstein poems, which kept the audience engaged while the judges made an obviously very difficult decision in selecting the winners.
The school-wide champions were then announced; senior Paul Gabrys and junior Jessica Wilder will be gong on to represent the school at the district competition.
The district competition will be held January 22 at a yet undecided location. More information will come on ways Chugiak High School students can support Paul and Jessica in their attempt to continue Chugiak’s tradition of Poetry Out Loud excellence.
