Poetry Out Loud : State Finals 2015

I had the great honor again this year of serving as prompter at the judges table for the California State Finals of Poetry Out Loud. In March, for two days, 40 champions from as many counties, competed for the chance to represent our state at the national championship in Washington D.C. You can read all about the POL program, sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts, at their website here.

The students are amazing. They each perform (recite) from memory (by heart) three poems of their choosing, from among the hundreds of poems on the POL website. Students first compete in high schools, regions, counties, and then at the state level. They are judged on all manner of criteria, including demonstrated understanding of the poetry.

This link takes you to a photo album, on the California Arts Council's Facebook page, where you can see all the poets, in all three rounds, including the winners -- check it out. I've excerpted some photos here, relevant to my participation and the Santa Clara County Champion, Joshua Bjurman.

Here I am, with accuracy judge Karen Lewis from CPITS, and two judges, last year's state champion,

Shayna Maci Warner, and poet Francisco Alarcon - Photo by Jay R. Hart 

Joshua Bjurman, Santa Clara County Champion with California Arts Council member Christopher Coppola and California Arts Council Chair Donn K. Harriis, after the first round.  Photo by Jay R. Hart

Three more judges: Al Young (former CA Poet Laureate), Francis Phillips, and Christopher Coppola.
Photo by Jay R. Hart

More last-minute instructions, including how to signal prompter Jennifer Swanton Brown - Photo by Jay R. Hart  (I think this photo is hysterical! I look like I'm swearing them in to a secret society.)

Assemblyman Chu's staff congratulates Santa Clara County Champion Joshua Bjurman - Photo by Jay R. Hart — on the final day, members of State Senate and Assembly meet the students and present them with certificates. It's a thrill to meet so many of our state leaders.

Joshua Bjurman, Round One of the California Poetry Out Loud 2015 State Finals - Photo by Jay R. Hart — at Sacramento, California.