SIOUX FALLS STUDENT WINS POL

PIERRE, S.D. – Brian Rhoades, a senior at Sioux Falls Lincoln High School, won the state Poetry Out Loud competition, March 26 in Sioux Falls. Rhoades will travel to Washington, D.C., to represent South Dakota at the national finals May 13-15, 2012.

Eight students from high schools across South Dakota competed for the title. Rhoades’ overall combined score from the three judges set him ahead of the rest to win the competition. In addition to his trip to Washington, Rhoades also won a $200 cash award, and his school library will receive $500 to be used for poetry books.

Rhoades is the son of Laurie and Brad Rhoades and the youngest of four boys. Along with his achievement in Poetry Out Loud, Rhoades also advanced to two national competitions in oral interpretation. He’ll attend the National Catholic Forensic League contest in Baltimore in May and the National Forensic League speech and debate tournament in Indianapolis in June. Throughout high school, Rhoades has also been involved in marching band - playing the trombone - and Lincoln High School’s Patriot Pride Committee, which promotes student achievement and encourages students to exemplify the true characteristics of a “Patriot,” the school mascot.

Second place in the competition went to Alexa Moeller, of Watertown High School. Moeller was awarded $100 cash, and her school library will receive $300 for the purchase of poetry books.

The state Poetry Out Loud contest will be broadcast on KLRN, the Sioux Falls School District’s cable channel (cable channel 20), next week on Wednesday, April 18, and Friday, April 20, at 1:30 a.m., 7 a.m., 1:30 p.m., and 7 p.m.

Five teachers were also awarded for their efforts in and out of the classroom as Poetry Out Loud coaches. Bryan Hagg, POL coach and teacher at Sioux Falls Lincoln High School was awarded the outstanding coach award. He received a $500 cash award. Also recognized were Kim Davidson, Rosholt High School; Sharon Prendergast, Sisseton High School; Jenna Jewell, Wilmot High School; and Lou Ann Jensen, Estelline High School.

Poetry Out Loud is a recitation program and competition that urges the teaching of poetry as an oral art form in high schools. Schools that participate in Poetry Out Loud enter students into a preliminary round, from which the state finalists are chosen. Poetry Out Loud was created in partnership by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation, with the collaboration of State Arts Agencies. Through Poetry Out Loud, students master public-speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn about their literary heritage.

PHOTO 1 CAPTION: Bryan Hagg (left), Poetry Out Loud Coach of the Year and Brian Rhoades, South Dakota State Poetry Out Loud champion, each received awards at the state POL finals in Sioux Falls March 26. Hagg is Rhoades teacher and POL coach at Sioux Falls Lincoln High School.