Sharon Academy student John Marshall (Class of 2012) recently took top honors at the state finals of “Poetry Out Loud,” and will represent Vermont at the national finals of the Poetry Out Loud Competition in Washington, D.C.

At the state finals held March 6 at the Vermont College of Fine Arts in Montpelier, Marshall was one of 33 competitors (and one of only two sophomores) representing schools from across Vermont. He won $200 for himself, as well as a $500 stipend for his school to use for purchasing poetry books. He also won an all-expenses-paid trip to the national finals in Washington, D.C., where he will compete for $50,000 worth of scholarship money.

“We are all proud of John, and of all of the Poetry Out Loud competitors across the state,” said TSA English teacher, Charlie McMeekin, adding that it would be a mistake to think of Poetry Out Loud as simply being about public speaking and the performing arts.

“Performing is one of the most effective ways to study, analyze and internalize any great piece of literature,” McMeekin said. “John’s performance truly did represent our school, since his performance was the culmination of all of the support and help of his fellow TSA competitors.”

Further proof of the community fostered by the competition could be found on competition day, when McMeekin’s car could not hold all of the students who wanted to support Marshall by attending the competition.

“Winning the Poetry Out Loud competition was an unexpected honor,” Marshall said, citing the support of his fellow TSA competitors and the coaching of Charlie McMeekin as being instrumental in his success. “They worked hard to help me to refine my performance.”

“Memorization and recitation are very effective ways to learn literature,” he added. “You have to internalize the words; forge a personal connection with the story; become a character within the poem.”