By ANNA PAREL, Gazebo Staff Writer
“Poetry Out Loud” is a contest many schools all around the country participate in each year.
On Thursday, 11 Stratford students recited their chosen poem in front of a group of judges, classmates, teachers and family members.
Savannah Alday was named the first-place winner. She recited, “Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird,” a poem by Wallace Stevens.
Senior Dylan Quintal finished second. Quintal won the poetry competition two years ago. Senior Ally Parker was third, and sophomore Anna Kate Alford and senior Conner Hefner tied for fourth place.
The contestants memorized one selection from a list of poems on the “Poetry Out Loud” website.
Upper school English teacher Lindsey Stevens brought the event to Stratford seven years ago after seeing it featured on “CBS News Sunday Morning.”
Alday will now move on to the Southern Regional Competion on Feb. 13 at the Telfair Center for the Arts in McRae, where she will be required to recite two poems.
The state competition is March 20 at the Atlanta History Center. The national finals are May 2-4 in Washington, D.C.
