Hoboken Students Excel In 'Poetry Out Loud' Competition

10 Hoboken Junior Senior High School students competed in the school’s Poetry Out Loud competition this week. The program is designed to help students learn about poetry, nurture public speaking skills, and build self-esteem.

The eighth annual competition took place at the school on Jan. 12. The National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation partners with U.S. state arts agencies to sponsor Poetry Out Loud programs.

The contest encourages the nation’s youth to learn about great poetry through memorization and recitation, School Media Specialist Michelle McGreivey stated. The program also helps students master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn about their literary heritage.

“Our ten intrepid performers put away any public speaking fears they had and each recited two poems they had memorized over the preceding weeks for classroom competitions,” McGreivey said. “We are proud of them all.”

The ten classroom winners who took part in the competition include: Willie Allen, Jaida Cintron, Kobe Dawes, Ashley Diaz, Allison Feinstein, Maria Florendo, Jaeda Henriquez, Akilah Milo, Jason Oliveras and Lisseth Quizhpi.

Jason Oliveras, a senior, was the overall winner, with Maria Florendo coming in second. Oliveras will represent Hoboken Junior Senior School at the regional competition on Feb. 2 at Bergen PAC in Englewood.

Photo courtesy of Michelle McGreivey

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