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Arts Council
Kentucky High School Student Barbara Gooding Places Second in Poetry Out Loud: National Recitation Contest
FRANKFORT, Ky. — Barbara Gooding, a junior at Western Hills High School in Frankfort and "Poetry Out Loud" state champion emerged as second-place winner among 53 state champions which included all 50 states plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Gooding received a $10,000 award for her achievement at the fourth "Poetry Out Loud" National Finals held on April 27-28, 2009 at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. Kentucky champions have been national finalists in three of the four years of competition.
"Poetry Out Loud" National Champion William Farley of Arlington, Virginia received a $20,000 award and a $500 stipend to his school for the purchase of poetry books.
The "Poetry Out Loud" National Finals are the result of efforts of many partners. The National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation have contributed support for administration of the program, educational materials, and prizes for both state and National Finals. The Kentucky Arts Council implemented the program, including coaching from artists in the "Arts Education Roster," in 28 high schools statewide. The "Poetry Out Loud" National Finals was administered by the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation.
"Poetry Out Loud" seeks to foster the next generation of literary readers by building on the resurgence of poetry as an oral art form. Through "Poetry Out Loud," students can master public speaking skills, build self-confidence and learn about their literary heritage. "Poetry Out Loud" has inspired thousand of students across the nation to discover classic and contemporary poetry.
For more information about Poetry Out Loud, visit www.poetryoutloud.org.
The Kentucky Arts Council is a state agency in the Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet that creates opportunities for Kentuckians to value, participate in and benefit from the arts. Kentucky Arts Council funding is provided by the Kentucky General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts, which believes that a great nation deserves great art.
NOTE TO EDITORS: Print quality photos available upon request to ed.lawrence@ky.gov
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The National Endowment for the Arts is a public agency dedicated to supporting excellence in the arts—both new and established—bringing the arts to all Americans, and providing leadership in arts education. Established by Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government, the Arts Endowment is the nation's largest annual funder of the arts, bringing great art to all 50 states, including rural areas, inner cities, and military bases. For more information, please visit www.arts.gov.
The Poetry Foundation, publisher of Poetry magazine, is an independent literary organization committed to a vigorous presence for poetry in our culture. It exists to discover and celebrate the best poetry and to place it before the largest possible audience.
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