Local high school student places at State Poetry Out Loud event

Staff Reports
The Contraband


On March 5, 2016 finalists from around the state competed in the Poetry Out Loud State Finals competition in Baton Rouge. Lake Charles’ own Mekenzie Peshoff, a sophomore at Barbe High School, and 1st place finalist in the Local and Regional competitions, placed 3rd in the State Competition with her performances of “Revenge” by Letitia Elizabeth Landon, “The Gaffe” by C.K. Williams, and “On Quitting” by Edgar Albert Guest. This was Mekenzie’s first year to compete, but she says it won’t be her last. “The Poetry Out Loud experience was an amazing one, and I am truly grateful for the opportunity I had to be a part of it. I believe that too often in our society, we place little to no value on literature (especially amongst teenagers), and it was refreshing to meet and compete with other young adults who value the fine arts as well. Poetry in itself is a truly emotional experience, and the process of the POL competition allowed me to enjoy and be in touch with my emotions, as opposed to going through the mundane motions of typical days. I would love to thank everyone at The Arts Council, the National Endowment for the Arts, and everyone else who helped make Poetry Out Loud 2016 possible. I certainly plan on competing the next two years as well!”

Students who are interested in competing in this annual event should contact the Arts Council beginning in September. Event information is disseminated in the fall of the year, and competitions are typically held in early January and February. Schools that wish to host their own competition are also urged to contact the Arts Council. For more information about Poetry Out Loud, contact Charla Blake at charlab@artscouncilswla.org, or call 439-ARTS.