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2022 Poetry Out Loud Idaho Semifinal & Final

2022 Poetry Out Loud Idaho State Semifinals & Final

Poetry Out Loud encourages the study of great poetry through a dynamic recitation competition for high school students.

During the 2021-2022 season, 2,148 students and 133 teachers and librarians at 30 Idaho schools and libraries participated in Poetry Out Loud.

21 Idaho teens who won the Poetry Out Loud contest in their school or library competed in the Idaho State Semifinal, and the top 12 students advanced to the Idaho State Final.

MC & JUDGES

Ameerah Bader, Semifinal Judge

Ameerah Bader is a Palestinian-Tlingit poet and artist located in North Idaho. They have been writing poems for eleven years and drawing for ten. They have been published a handful of times and nominated for the Pushcart Prize twice. In 2019 they graduated with two BFAs in printmaking and illustration from Boise State University. Their favorite pastimes are long walks, talks, and drawing all day. ameerahbader.com

CMarie Fuhrman, Final Judge

CMarie Fuhrman is the author of Camped Beneath the Dam: Poems and co-editor of Native Voices: Indigenous Poetry, Craft, and Conversations. She has published or forthcoming poetry and nonfiction in multiple journals and several anthologies. CMarie is a regular columnist for the Inlander, Translations Editor for Broadsided Press, and Nonfiction Editor of High Desert Journal. She is the Director of the Elk River Writers Workshop and Director of Poetry at Western Colorado University, where she teaches Nature Writing. CMarie is 2021-2023 Idaho Writer in Residence. CMarieFuhrman.com

Monique N. Michel, Semifinal Judge

My name is Monique N. Michel. I’m a Junior High Spanish teacher at Foothills School of Arts and Sciences, and the owner and Director of my dance company, the Ballet Folklorico Mexico Lindo. I’m Mom to 2 fabulous adults and dog mom to Pirate, the best German Shepherd that ever was.

Stacy Boe Miller, Final Judge

Stacy Boe Miller is a poet and nonfiction writer living in northern Idaho. Her work can be found in several journals, and her manuscript Answer with Hunger was a finalist for the Blue Lynx prize for poetry. She serves on the board of High Desert Journal and is the current Poet Laureate of Moscow.

Adrian San Miguel, Final Judge

Adrian San Miguel is the Director of Program Services for the Idaho Division of Career Technical Education in downtown Boise. Originally from Texas, he received degrees in vocal performance from Baylor University. Adrian teaches music courses on jazz, popular, and global music at CWI and has performed with Opera Idaho, Critical Mass Vocal Arts, and St. Michael’s Cathedral in downtown Boise.

Andrew Stensaas, Semifinal Judge

Andrew Stensaas, born in Mason City, Iowa, is the Creative Director and Co-Founder of LED. He is a songwriter, composer, producer and musician. He has been in two critically acclaimed bands: Portland’s Sons of Sirens and Boise’s Edmond Dantes. In 2014, Edmond Dantes wrote the soundtrack for the film Almosting It, directed by Will Von Tagen. In January 2015, he founded LED with his wife and choreographer Lauren Edson and has continued to be at the forefront of artistic innovation locally and nationally, bringing Boise into a global arts conversation. He is the father to two beautiful boys, Finn and Liam.

CONTESTANTS

Annie Brownlee, Finalist

American Heritage Charter School | Phyllis Aycock

Scale by Helen Mort
My Therapist Wants to Know about My Relationship to Work by Tianna Clark

Annie Brownlee is a Junior at American Heritage Charter School in Idaho Falls who hopes to pursue a career in Emergency Care Nursing. After school, she can often be found at leadership meetings for student government and her school's version of the National Honor Society.

Odessa Hunt, Finalist

Capital High School | Bret Bishop

Ode 1. 11 by Horace, translated by Burton Raffel
Not Horses by Natalie Shapero

Odessa Hunt is a sophomore that is still figuring out what she wants to be when she grows up. She loves playing her cello in her school's chamber orchestra and in the Boise Philharmonic Youth Symphony. She also enjoys camping, backpacking, and hiking.

Seth Hill, Finalist

Classical Christian Academy | Jenna Bailey

To have without holding by Marge Piercy
A Hymn to God the Father by John Donne

Seth Hill is a senior at Classical Christian Academy. He will be pursuing a degree in Advertising and Graphic Design at Grand Canyon University in the fall. Seth loves photography, music, singing and drawing.


Jodie Knudsen, Finalist

Eagle High School | Tracy Harrison

A Noiseless Patient Spider by Walt Whitman
the world is about to end and my grandparents are in love by Kara Jackson

Jodie Knudsen is a senior at Eagle High School. Jodie has a passion for the performing arts and theater. She will be attending Northwest Nazarene University in the Fall with the hopes of studying Nursing.

Mckenna Rawlinson, Semifinalist

Fruitland High School | Kevin Wickersham

Whenever you see a tree by Padma Venkatraman
The Spring by Thomas Carew

Mckenna Rawlinson is a freshman at Fruitland High School. She enjoys playing soccer, basketball, tennis, trumpet and piano. She loves to spend time with her family playing games, hunting, fishing, backpacking, and skiing. She tries her best in school and always tries to have a positive attitude.

Makayla Moffet, Finalist

Hope Christian Academy | Kristine Howe

I look at the world by Langston Hughes
When You Are Old by William Butler Yeats

Makayla Moffet is a senior with dreams of pursuing a career as a pediatric nurse. She plans on going to college at Boise State University or Northwest Nazarene University. She is currently studying AP English and redesigning the counseling office for her Senior Project at Hope Christian Academy. Makayla enjoys playing basketball and writing her own music.

Lily Walsh, Semifinalist

Idaho Virtual Academy | Misty Dietz

Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing by James Weldon Johnson
The Pilgrim by John Bunyan

Lily Walsh is a senior with a purpose of serving God through her love of writing Christian teen fiction as a hobby. She is a published writer with Unlocked. She dreams of becoming a missionary doctor in South America. She loves spending time with family, and reading a good book!

Alexis Lucas, Semifinalist

Idaho Arts Charter School | Jillian Singh

About Standing (In Kinship) by Kimberly Blaeser
The animals in that country by Margaret Atwood

Alexis Lucas is a sophomore who aspires to be a high school English teacher. She loves reading, writing, and school.



Milania Akers, Finalist

IDLA | Amanda Swanson

Dream of the Phone Booth by Emilia Philips
In the Desert by Stephen Crane

Milania Akers is a sophomore at Inspire Connections Academy. In her spare time, she enjoys eating chocolate croissants, learning Russian, singing to Broadway musicals, and aspires to be be just like Edna Mode when she grows up.

April Church, Finalist

McCall-Donnelly High School | Tod McManus

My partner wants me to write them a poem about Sheryl Crow by Kayleb Rae Candrilli
Abecedarian Requiring Further Examination of Anglikan Seraphym Subjugation of a Wild Indian Rezervation by Natalie Diaz

April Church is a senior with aspirations of teaching biology later in life. She spends her free time with her adored cat, Biscuit, and loves to bake french bread.



Morgan Apt, Semifinalist

Moscow High School | Todd Bailey

"The Art Room by Shara McCallum
'Un Tintero,' Inkwell by Desirée Alvarez

Morgan Apt, a Moscow native, lives with her family enjoying her role as big sister to siblings Catherine and Preston. She is a cross-country runner and a third-generation weaver. She appreciates the companionship of friends and the family’s cockatiels, Penny and Opal, and their dog named Greta from Guadalajara, Mexico.

Alejandro Vazquez, Semifinalist

Mountain Home High School | Taunya Page

All This and More by Mary Karr
Dirge Without Music by Edna St. Vincent Millay

Alejandro Vazquez is a sophomore at Mountain Home High School with dreams of becoming an Artist one day. they love drawing and painting, loves theater, and writing.


Karalie Potter, Semifinalist

North Idaho STEM Charter Academy | Betsy Sims

Invictus by William Ernest Henley
'Hope' is the thing with Feathers by Emily Dickinson

Karalie Potter is a sophomore who enjoys acting and reading books and poetry. She hopes to become a mother one day and travel Europe.




Camila Juarez Roman, Finalist

Sage International School | Melissa Cortes

In a Dark Time by Theodore Roethke
The Light of Stars by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Camila 'Cami' Juarez Roman is a freshman at Sage International School of Boise. She enjoys reading books, often about history, poetry, and fiction. She can also almost always be found learning and broadening her horizons.


Rachel Green, Finalist

Sugar-Salem High School | Nancy Robinson

A Poison Tree by William Blake
The Passionate Shepherd to His Love by Christopher Marlowe

Rachel Green is a senior at Sugar-Salem High School. She loves performing and has been a part of her school’s drama department all four years of high school. She also loves to read and write, and one day hopes to become a published author.

Priya Merchant, Finalist

Sun Valley Community School | Jeannie Woller

Born Like the Pines by James Ephraim McGirt
Sonnet 84: While one sere leaf, that parting Autumn yields by Anna Seward

Priya Merchant has been doing Poetry Out Loud for four years. She loves theater, hiking, and cooking, and will be attending Vassar College in the fall of 2022.


Emily Bohman, Finalist

Taylor's Crossing Public Charter School | Sherry Newell

The Bearer by Hayden Carruth
The Bad Old Days by Kenneth Rexroth

Emily Bohman is a Junior in high school who enjoys reading, learning, acting, and poetry. They have a talent and a passion for learning languages and traveling. They believe that stories have the most value in the world and are intent on hearing as much of them as possible.


Zoe Zufelt, Semifinalist

Tech Trep Academy | Kalli Collins

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost
Up-Hill by Christina Rossetti

Zoe Zufelt loves to read, write, ski, pound out frustrations on the piano, and learn German. She also has a love-hate relationship with weightlifting. Zoe enjoys Shakespeare and being crazy with her sister and friends.


Kaylee Cox, Semifinalist

Twin Falls Public Library | CJ Rasmusson

Ah! Why, Because the Dazzling Sun by By Emily Brontë
Light Shining Out of Darkness by William Cowper

Kaylee is a sophomore who lives in the magic valley, she enjoys acting, signing, as well as auditioning for plays and has been casted for over a half dozen shows. Kaylee is a studious student who excels at being part of National Honor Society, and doing community service, she competes in rodeo in several events and plays school sports. Being involved in Bible studies and serving in soup kitchens gives her great pleasure.

Hannah Westermann, Finalist

Xavier Charter School | Amanda Loosli

In Praise of My Bed by Meredith Holmes
After working sixty hours again for what reason by Bob Hicok

Hannah Westermann is a senior at Xavier Charter School. She enjoys both writing and reading and has a knack for art.

 

The National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation partner with state arts agencies, including the Idaho Commission on the Arts, to support Poetry Out Loud.

National Endowment for the Arts          Poetry Foundation          Arts Idaho

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