West Orange Student Poets Rock The Mic At Annual Competition

WEST ORANGE, NJ — A great poem can change the world. And these West Orange students know it.

West Orange school administrators reported that the district’s 11th annual Poetry Out Loud Competition was a rousing success, with 114 West Orange High School students helping to decide the ultimate victor of the contest: Bianca Trinidad.

Trinidad - who recited “I Felt a Funeral in My Brain” by Emily Dickinson and “Dear Reader” by Rita Mae Reese to capture the win – has earned the right to represent West Orange High School at the regional competition to be held at South Orange Performing Arts Center on Feb. 8.

The contest was close, though… only two points separated Trinidad from runner-up Elijah Chilton, last year’s winner, who recited “To Elsie” by William Carlos Williams and “Mezzo Cammin” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

According to school administrators, the contest aims to encourages youth to learn about great poetry through memorization and recitation, also helping them to master public speaking skills, build self-confidence and learn about their literary heritage.

The National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation partners with U.S. and state arts agencies to support Poetry Out Loud, which is organized into local, regional, state and national competitions.

This year's finalists were:

• Ninth Grade: Rachel Favetta, Darlene Folas, Ashlea Hume, Izzy Soto, Jr.
• Tenth Grade: Orianna Carter, Daniella Rodriguez
• Eleventh Grade: Anna Favetta, Juaquin Goodbar
• Twelfth Grade: Sophia Adelson, Elijah Chilton, Janiya Peters, Bianca Trinidad

Photos: West Orange Public Schools

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