NH's 2015 Poetry Out Loud Champion Named

Dessaline Etienne from Goffstown High School is the winner of New Hampshire’s 10th Poetry Out Loud championship, according to a press statement. Nora Doyle from Plymouth Regional High School was selected as alternate champion.

As state champion, Etienne receives $200 and travel expenses to compete at the national championship in Washington, D.C., accompanied by an adult chaperone. His high school receives a $500 stipend for the purchase of poetry books. Doyle will receive $100, with $200 for her school library.

The national Poetry Out Loud competition takes place on April 28-29, 2015; high school students from around the U.S. will gather to recite their selected poems. A total of $50,000 in cash and school stipends are awarded to participants placing at various levels of the national competition.

Should Etienne be unable to attend, Doyle will represent New Hampshire at the event.

This year is the program’s 10th anniversary both nationally and in New Hampshire. This year, approximately 10,000 students participated in programs through 37 high schools groups. Local champions went on to compete at one of four state semi-final competitions. Ten students competed at the state championship.

Virginia Prescott, host of New Hampshire Public Radio-produced “Word of Mouth” was the master of ceremonies.

More information about New Hampshire’s Poetry Out Loud program, including a list of high school champions, state semi-final participants and state championship participants, is available by clicking on the “Poetry Out Loud” link at nh.gov/nharts. More information about the national program is available at poetryoutloud.org.

Captions: Dessaline Etienne and Nora Doyle reciting poetry; both are pictured with Virginia Prescott of NHPR. Courtesy photos.