Johanna Griffin Wins Poetry Out Loud Competition

One Souhegan student is off to the state finals after an impressive performance of poetry on Tuesday.

Johanna Griffin came out on top of Souhegan's Poetry Out Loud finals for her recitation of Lunar Baedeker by Mina Loy. The runner-up was Jennifer Cui for her recitation of Dover Beach by Matthew Arnold. Both poems are considered extremely difficult in terms of language, length and content.  

Both the winner and runner-up in the school-wide competition win scholarships to New England College ($20,000), as well as to Southern New Hampshire University (merit-based ranging from $4,000 - $18,000 a year for four years), should they choose to enroll.

Griffin will now go on to compete in the NH Regional Semi-Final event on March 5 at Southern New Hampshire University. The state champion will advance to the Poetry Out Loud National Finals in April in Washington, DC, where $50,000 dollars in awards and school prizes will be distributed.

Last year's school-wide winner was Emmy McGuy, who recited the poem "Famous" by Naomi Shihab Nye.

More than 600 Souhegan students in grades 9 – 12 chose, analyzed, memorized and performed from memory a published poem from Poetry Out Loud’s online anthology. 

The Poetry Out Loud competition, presented in partnership with the NH State Council on the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Poetry Foundation, is part of a national program that encourages high school students to learn about great poetry through memorization, performance, and competition.