Cameron Locke, a senior at Stockton High School, was named the 2012 Poetry Out Loud Southwest Regional Winner at the 6th Annual Poetry Out Loud Regional Competition held on February 21st at The Creamery Arts Center.
Locke performed three poems: “There’s Been a Death in, the Opposite House” by Emily Dickinson, “A Noiseless Patient Spider” by Walt Whitman and “So This is Nebraska” by Ted Kooser. Locke beat out nine other performers from local and regional high schools to earn his title. He will advance to the state level where each state winner receives $200 and an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, DC to compete at the National Finals as well as a $500 stipend for their schools for the purchase of poetry books.
The runner-up of the competition was Nicole Andrews, a senior from Central High School. She won both the 2011 and 2010 Southwest Regional Contests and was the Missouri state champion in 2010.
High schools participating in the regional contest were Branson, Central, Dixon, Glendale, Kickapoo, Monett, Nixa, Stockton, Waynesville, and West Plains. Randy Stewart, the Fine Arts Producer for KSMU, emceed the event. Judges for the event included Veda Boyd Jones, Kelly Knauer, Jon Herbert, and Accuracy Judge, Amanda Rehani. Jones is an award-winning author of works for both adults and children. Knauer is an editor and writer for TIME books. Herbert is the director for Ozarks Technical Community College’s theatre and drama program and is a working actor, director, and writer. Rehani is the Finance Director for the Springfield Regional Arts Council.
The Poetry Out Loud National Competition, which was launched in high schools across the nation in 2005, is a collaboration of the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation partnering with State and Regional Art Agencies. In addition to the scholarship awards and school stipends given at the national competition, the national champion will receive a $20,000 college scholarship award.
The Southwest Missouri Regional Poetry Out Loud Competition is a collaboration of the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Missouri Arts Council, Missouri Association of Community Arts Agencies, National Endowment for the Arts, the Poetry Foundation, and the Springfield Regional Arts Council. Contact the Arts Council at 417-862-2787 or visit www.SpringfieldArts.org for more information.