Ten high school students from the ESD 112 region selected poems from an anthology of more than 700 classic and contemporary works to memorize and perform in front of judges, peers and parents February 3 as part of the Regional Final for Poetry Out Loud: National Recitation Contest.

Based on scores for voice and articulation, evidence of understanding, level of difficulty, and accuracy, Emelie Pennington-Davis, Trout Lake School District, and Sameayah Pehlke, Vancouver School of Arts and Academics, were selected as regional winners.

The competition, presented in partnership with the Washington State Arts Commission, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Poetry Foundation, is part of a national program that encourages high school students to learn about great poetry through memorization, performance, and competition.

The following students participated in the regional competition: Levi Shenk, Battle Ground High School; John Nelson, Camas High School; Owen Carlson, Cedar Tree Classical Christian School; Phoebe Jud, Hayes Freedom High School; Jerica Pinard, Heritage High School; Rosie Mayfield, Ridgefield High School; Joseph Lane, Skyview High School; and Natalie Johnson, Stevenson High School.