In Today’s News

Joao Victor’s Story

Joao Victor of Lewiston High School shouts with joy after he was named the winner of the Poetry Out Loud state final held at the Waterville Opera House on Monday. Other contestants behind him from left are Emily Campbell of Waterville Senior High School, Hanna Lavenson of Messalonskee High School and Magnolia Vandiver of George Stevens Academy in Blue Hill. Morning Sentinel photo by David Leaming

Amy Calder’s article in today’s Waterville Sentinel provides a great overview of the State Poetry Out Loud Finals held yesterday at the Waterville Opera House. The excitement was intense!

FROM THE ARTICLE

Victor was stunned by his win and very happy.

“This is just amazing,” he said in an interview. “I conquered my goal. I achieved my goal.”

Victor recited three poems Monday in the competition’s three rounds: “Songs for the People,” by Frances Ellen Watkins Harper, “The Light of the Stars,” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, and “Bright Copper Kettles,” by Vijay Seshadri.

He walked to the stage each time, confident and impeccably dressed in a gray suit and bow tie. He projected to the audience, with whom he made frequent eye contact. He was articulate, enunciated well, used hand gestures, was emotive and spoke powerfully.

Find the entire article at THIS LINK. 

And, the POL Champ Is…

Congratulations

Ten students with all kinds of emotions arrived at the Waterville Opera House yesterday afternoon at about 12:30. At 2:30 the doors opened to the public and about 100 people – teachers, parents, grandparents, siblings, friends, and poets flowed into the seats for an afternoon of poetry. Everyone was excited for the State Poetry Out Loud Finals. The students were prepared, they looked great and one by one they walked onto the stage to recite poems that they had become very familiar with during the last few months.

Joao and Allan waiting to hear who would become the champ and first runner-up for 2019

At the end of the day, the ten students stood shoulder to shoulder, proud for their amazing accomplishments. One was named the 2019 Maine State POL Champion and one became the runner-up for Maine.

Congratulations to Joao Victor, grade 12, Lewiston High School, Maine’s Champ. Joao will represent Maine at the National POL Finals. Congratulations to Allan Monga, grade 12, Deering High School who was named the runner-up.

I invite you all to watch the live-stream of the national event on April 29 and May 1. More details will be provided in the future on this blog.

Joao Victor, Allan Monga, and emcee Bill Green at the end of the program