South High School recently hosted its annual Poetry Out Loud competition, a national recitation contest that encourages students to master public speaking skills and build an appreciation for classic and contemporary poetry. Participants memorize and perform poems, which are judged on criteria including physical presence, articulation, and emotional interpretation.
Eighth grader Erika Mendoza Rosa claimed first place with her performances of “Little Tree” by E.E. Cummings and “Fire and Ice” by Robert Frost. Ninth grader Alisha Akim earned second place for her recitations of “She Dwelt Among the Untrodden Ways” by William Wordsworth and “From Brooklyn” by Evelyn Scott.
Alisha Akim, left and Erika Mendoza Rosa.