By JESSICA HARDING
Staff Writer
RED BANK — On Jan. 25, competitors for the upcoming Monmouth, Ocean and Middlesex counties’ round of the national “Poetry Out Loud” competition were announced.
The regional competition will be held at Count Basie Theatre’s Performing Arts Academy on Tuesday, Feb. 7, at 10 a.m.
“Poetry Out Loud” started 11 years ago, to encourage the study of poetry by education and recitation throughout the country. The program has reached more than three million students and 45,000 teachers.
Five other regional rounds are set to take place, and all winners will move onto the state competition in April, located at The College of New Jersey in Ewing.
From that competition, one state champion will advance to the finals in Washington, D.C. where a $50,000 prize is at stake.
The Monmouth, Ocean and Middlesex counties’ round will conclude with two winners being selected.
This year’s competitors are:
- Nora Asker (freshman, Noor UI-Iman);
- Sarah Baum (junior, Marlboro High School);
- Kristen Bray (senior, Howell High School);
- Megan Brown (freshman, Ocean County Vocational Tech School — Performing Arts Academy);
- Alexa Cahill (senior, Middletown High School North);
- Marlene Fernandez (sophomore, Central Regional High School);
- Samantha Ferreira (senior, Colonia High School);
- Julia Forsyth (junior, Henry Hudson Regional School);
- Anthony Forte (junior, Barnegat High School);
- Alec Gousett (senior, Colts Neck High School);
- Shea Grant (sophomore, Red Bank Regional High School);
- Danyal Malik (senior, Holmdel High School);
- Gisselle Martinez (sophomore, South River High School);
- Joseph Paolantonio (junior, Monmouth Regional High School);
- Karielys Rivera (junior, Freehold High School);
- Alexandra Szewczyk (senior, Shore Regional High School);
- Sophia Turci (junior, Piscataway High School);
- Daniel Wall (senior, John P. Stevens High School);
- Adi Zacks (junior, Spotswood High School).
In the event of inclement weather, the Monmouth, Ocean and Middlesex counties’ round will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 14, at 10 a.m. instead.
For more information about this or other Count Basie Theatre events, email Jonathan Vena at jvena@countbasietheatre.org.
