Students showcase literary talents at Dover poetry contest

posted on 1/2/2025

Dover High School students showcased their literary talents at the 18th annual Poetry Out Loud competition Dec. 20.

Language arts teacher Lesley Hocking organized the contest, which is part of the national Poetry Out Loud program. The competition challenges students to memorize and perform classic and contemporary poems while developing public speaking and analytical skills.

Senior Allison Dion won the school championship, while classmate Jane Schintzius placed second. Junior Jaden Mungdung took third place. Dion will advance to the regional competition, where she hopes to qualify for the state finals and ultimately the national championship in Washington, D.C. National finalists compete for scholarship prizes and recognition.

The National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation sponsor Poetry Out Loud, which encourages students to explore literature while developing a deeper understanding of themselves and the world around them.