March 23, 2016
Arizona high school student to compete in national poetry recitation competition
Hunter Hazleton of Laveen, Arizona, is Arizona’s Poetry Out Loud State Champion
PHOENIX – Hunter Hazleton, a senior at Betty Fairfax High School in Laveen, Arizona, was named 2016 Arizona Poetry Out Loud State Champion at the state finals competition held on March 11, 2016 at the downtown Phoenix studios of Arizona PBS. As State Champion, Hazleton will represent Arizona at the 11th annual Poetry Out Loud National Finals competition in Washington, D.C., in May.
A program of the National Endowment for the Arts and The Poetry Foundation, Poetry Out Loud is delivered in all 50 states and three territories through partnerships with the State Arts Agencies. The Arizona Poetry Out Loud program is managed and supported by the Arizona Commission on the Arts, an agency of the State of Arizona.
This year, 49 schools and over 10,000 students across the state participated in the competition at the school level. 52 students advanced to compete at one of three regional competitions held in February.
Ten students advanced from the regional competitions to compete in the state finals:
Southern Region
· Deja Brown (Sonoran Science Academy) Tucson
· Caitlin McCormick (The Gregory School) Tucson
· Edgardo Flores (Villa Oasis High School) Eloy
Central Region
· Edel Healy, Xavier College Preparatory (Phoenix)
· Anisa Myers, American Leadership Academy (Queen Creek)
· Karina Morris, AAEC PV High School (Phoenix)
· Hunter Hazelton, Betty Fairfax High School (Laveen)
Northern Region
· Sophie Weinzinger, Coconino High School (Flagstaff)
· Hanna Heiden, Kingman High School (Kingman)
· Carly Smith, Coconino High School (Flagstaff)
As the Arizona Poetry Out Loud state champion, Hazleton receives a $200 cash award and an all-expenses-paid trip for himself and a chaperone to the national finals, to be held in Washington, D.C., May 2-4, 2016. Additionally, his school will receive $500 to purchase poetry books for its library. “The students work hard to get to the finals,” said Robert C. Booker, Executive Director of the Arizona Commission on the Arts. “Watching such a diverse group of exceptional young people from around the state stand tall, recite, and display their understanding and love of poetry is truly remarkable and inspirational. These young people learn skills through this competition that will serve them for a lifetime.”
The distinguished panel of judges for the event included professional poets, performers, and educators:
· Jia Oak Baker
· Fatimah Halim
· Leah Marché
· Pamela Sterling
· Dr. Laura Tohe
Poet and teaching artist Tomas Stanton emceed the event. Dr. Laura Tohe, Poet Laureate of the Navajo Nation, appeared as a special guest, reciting her own work for an appreciative audience.
About Poetry Out Loud
Poetry Out Loud, a program of the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation, seeks to foster the next generation of literary readers by capitalizing on the latest trends in poetry—recitation and performance.
Poetry Out Loud invites the dynamic aspects of slam poetry, spoken word, and theater into the English class. Through Poetry Out Loud, students can master public speaking skills, build self-confidence and learn about their literary heritage. For further information regarding Poetry Out Loud, visit www.poetryoutloud.org.
