Paving the way to a successful college career doesn’t begin freshman year, it starts off in high school when students begin joining clubs and taking part in after school activities and programs that teach them valuable lessons that will benefit them throughout college. SUNY is dedicated to helping ease these transitions twith the many programs that are hosted on our 64 campuses for our friends and neighbors. By hosting such programs, young students and neighbors are able to take a look at a college environment and see some of the culture present at SUNY.
Poetry Out Loud was established by Teachers and Writers Collaborative in New York State to allow students to learn about great poetry through memorization and recitation. The 2017 edition is kicking now kicking off. Students from different schools in the nation pick three poems to recite from the online poem anthology and are judged on a variety of categories. The competition begins in a classroom setting, then moves on to regional competitions and national finals where students from different states get to show off their passion for poetry in Washington D.C.
Many students who have participated in Poetry Out Loud have had the chance to not only travel but explore places outside their own schools and communities. In New York State, SUNY is the host of the Poetry Out Loud competitions. After students are picked from different schools to participate, they come to compete and also see the beauty of our various SUNY campuses.
Chancellor Nancy Zimpher tells us why this partnership works so well: “SUNY is proud to partner with the Teachers & Writers Collaborative and New York State Council on the Arts, and open its doors again to such an important national competition. These events provide a valuable learning experience for so many of our high school students, and it is an opportunity for all of us to celebrate literary talent in our local communities.”
The 2017 regional competitions will be held at these SUNY schools:
- SUNY Global Center
- College at Brockport
- Hudson Valley Community College
- Erie Community College
- Nassau Community College
- Purchase Community College
- Clinton Community College
- Onondaga Community College
- SUNY Oneonta
- SUNY New Paltz
- Stony Brook University
- Fashion Institute of Technology
The 2017 National Finals will be held April 25-26, 2017 at the Lisner Auditorium at The George Washington University.
In addition to the great performing arts experience, giving young students the opportunity to compete at different SUNY campuses shows them how large the SUNY system is and how much each campus has to offer. Being on a campus and seeing current students working on projects and learning gives them something to look up to and perhaps a school to look forward to.
The competition schedule is free and open to the public, so be sure to support your community and attend your local Poetry Out Loud contest this year!
