OROVILLE – The Butte County Office of Education hosted the 10th Annual Poetry Out Loud event on Friday, a vibrant showcase of local students’ artistry and depth. Part of a national initiative to foster an appreciation for poetry and public speaking, the event highlighted the power of language to inspire and connect.
High school students from Paradise High, Las Plumas High, Oroville High, Core Butte Charter, and Chico High delivered two memorized recitations each. Poems ranged from Julia Ward Howe’s iconic “Battle-Hymn of the Republic” to Emily Brontë’s introspective “No Coward Soul Is Mine,” offering a diverse tapestry of themes and emotions.
“This competition has given me the opportunity to expand my craft as not only a public speaker but also as a poet,” said Core Butte Charter student Lily Krueger, who won first place in her school’s debut year in the competition. Her nuanced and heartfelt performances captivated judges and the audience alike. With the win, she earned a spot in the California Poetry Out Loud competition.
“I chose my poems because they reflect my faith, which plays a major role in my life,” Krueger said. “My love and appreciation for poetry was deepened through the competition. I am excited for it to continue to deepen as I move forward.”
Second place was a tie between Las Plumas High students Destiny Pacheco and Aubree Ackerson, whose poised and powerful recitations resonated with the audience and judges alike. Oroville High School’s Kaida Witherell claimed third place, rounding out a field of talented participants.
The event relied on the dedication of teacher coaches Rachel Ramirez, Kailey Newkirk, Abigail Ott, Courtney Barnett, and Christine Henderson, who guided students through the rigorous preparation process. Judges Sara Thompson, Kalyn Peterson, Tam’Ra Wich’Ma, Kimberlee Wheeler, and Bonnie Pipkin evaluated performances based on physical presence, articulation, dramatic appropriateness, understanding, and technical precision.
After a decade of elevating student expression, Poetry Out Loud continues to thrive as a cornerstone of arts education in Butte County.
About Poetry Out Loud
Poetry Out Loud lifts poetry off the page, creating community and connection. Through this program, high school students across the country participate in a dynamic poetry recitation competition designed to improve public speaking skills, build confidence, and teach them about literary history and contemporary life. A partnership of the National Endowment for the Arts, the Poetry Foundation, and state and jurisdictional arts agencies, Poetry Out Loud® provides free lesson plans and other educational materials to teachers and organizers, including an online anthology of 1,200 classic and contemporary poems.
The program starts at the local level with a school or participating organization. Winners then may advance to a regional and/or state competition, and ultimately to the national finals. Awards and placements are determined solely by judges’ scores based on the Poetry Out Loud Evaluation Criteria. Poetry Out Loud takes place in all 50 states, American Samoa, District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Since the program began in 2005, more than 4.4 million students and 81,000 teachers from 20,000 schools across the U.S. have participated in Poetry Out Loud.
BCOE Student Events Manager Mary Ellen Garrahy contributed to this story.
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