‘Poetry Out Loud’ Attracts 16,
Keenhold Wins Local Event

On Thursday, Feb. 28, Randolph Union High School hosted its third annual local "Poetry Out Loud" competition.

Sixteen students representing grade levels from seven to twelve competed for the honor of representing RUHS at the state competition in Montpelier. A standing-room-only crowd in the Humanities 10 room was treated to an evening of exceptional poetry recitations, while judges Edie Benson, Dave Barnett, and Meredith Liben had the difficult task of choosing a winner and runner-up. The highest honors were bestowed upon sophomore, Bryn Keenhold, for her lively renditions of "The Spider and the Fly" by Mary Howitt and "Deliberate" by Amy Uyematsu.

Zoe Gaby-Smith placed second, and Unique Small and Libby Crowe both earned an honorable mention.

On Tuesday, March 11, Bryn Keenhold took her performance to the Pavilion Auditorium in Montpelier where she joined 19 other "Poetry Out Loud" winners from around the state. She was supported by teachers Tina O’Donnell, Lisa Cassetty, and Hannah Dransfield, as well as Supt. Brent Kay, her mother, Beth Keenhold, and several carloads of other Randolph poetry enthusiasts. While Bryn was not ultimately selected to represent Vermont in the national competition, her performance did not disappoint. Her crowd-pleasing version of "The Spider and the Fly" earned her a place in the semi-final round.

"Poetry Out Loud" is funded by the National Poetry Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Vermont Council for the Humanities.