Kayla Ruiz Wins Deer Park High's Poetry Out Loud Contest

For the second year in a row, Kayla Ruiz won the Deer Park High School Poetry Out Loud Contest with a score of 45.33.

The maximum score possible was 47. The runners up were Jessica Orelus with a score of 42.66 and Christina O’Toole with a score of 42.33.

Kayla went on to recite at the regional competition at Stony Brook University on Feb. 26, which was facilitated by the State University of New York, Teachers & Writers Collaborative, National Endowment for the Arts and New York State Council on the Arts.

“This year was more competitive, so I was nervous, but it was a really cool competition,” Kayla said. “I had a lot of fun.”

More than 12,000 high school students participated in last year’s nationwide and worldwide Poetry Out Loud Contest.

Photo by Deer Park School District: Deer Park High School Poetry Out Loud Contest schoolwide winner Kayla Ruiz was congratulated by Principal James Cummings.

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