2023 Poetry Out Loud Idaho Remote Semifinal
Poetry Out Loud encourages the study of great poetry through a dynamic recitation competition for high school students.
During the 2022-2023 season, 1737 students and 79 teachers at 20 Idaho schools participated in Poetry Out Loud.
19 Idaho teens who won the Poetry Out Loud contest in their school competed in the Idaho State Semifinal, where judges scored their video recitations for performance quality and accuracy. The top 12 students advanced to the Idaho State Final at The Riverside Hotel in Boise on March 18, 2023.
The 2023 POL Idaho finalists, in alphabetical order by school name, are:
American Heritage Charter School, Zion Hannon
Capital High School, Asha Muhingi
Classical Christian Academy, Seryn Croswhite
Eagle High School, Taylor Berggren
IDLA, Audra Curl
McCall-Donnelly High School, Kylee Thomas
Mountain Home High School, Liam Peterson
New Plymouth High School, Emma Eldred
North Idaho STEM Charter Academy, Karalie Potter
Paradise Creek Regional High School, Aariah Coile
Sun Valley Community School, Cassius Klingenfuss
Xavier Charter School, Emma Spooner
MC & JUDGES
Savannah Butler
Savy Butler is a first year MFA poetry student at Boise State and holds a BA in English from the University of Maine. Originally from Georgia, she is drawn to poetry that explores nature.
Jared Goodpaster
After traveling the world teaching English in the Czech Republic and NYC, Jared settled down in Boise, Idaho and earned his Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction at NNU while teaching history and government at local high schools. Promptly after finishing his graduate degree, Jared put his education to use and helped create the Boise Rock School. In addition to education, he has played in numerous bands and been involved in audio production and engineering. When not being an Education Director, you can find Jared in front of his monitors mixing tunes or placing microphones in front of local musicians.
Caleb Merritt
Caleb Merritt is a first-year poetry graduate student in the MFA program in Creative Writing at Boise State University. Growing up in the midwest, he most recently resided in Alabama. During the pandemic, he married his undergraduate Speech & Debate duo partner, Alli, who he met at Hastings College where he received his BA in Studio Art. Before graduate school, he worked for Habitat for Humanity. His work was most recently put out as Chappbook, his third collection of poetry.
Tracy Sunderland
Tracy Sunderland is a teaching artist working in film and theatre. Her feature screenplay, Tailor, was nominated for best foreign-language film at the Japanese Academy Awards in 2022. She is the Artistic Director of the experimental art company Migration Theory and teaches at Boise State and The Cabin.
Adam Ray Wagner
Adam Ray Wagner is a poet from various states—mostly Nebraska. He holds a BA in Creative Writing from Colorado State University and an MA in English: Poetry & Poetics from the University of Maine.
CONTESTANTS
Zion Hannon
American Heritage Charter School | Phyllis Aycock
"1969" by Alex Dimitrov
"If We Must Die" by Claude McKay
Zion Hannon is a sophomore with aspirations to become a baker. She loves to try new recipes and is usually seen with a plate of goodies handing treats to others in the school halls. Zion loves everything about poetry and would love to publish her own book of poetry one day.
Asha Muhingi
Capital High School | Bret Bishop
"A Wing and a Prayer" by Beth Fennelly
"Abecedarian Requiring Further Examination of Anglikan Seraphym Subjugation of a Wild Indian Reservation" by Natalie Diaz
Asha Muhingi is a senior who wishes to contribute and work for her community she loves advocating for many causes but most notably are environmental and human rights. Her motivation is public service, and her favorite poet is Maya Angelou.
Seryn Croswhite
Classical Christian Academy | Jenna Bailey
"The Light Of Stars" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
"The Farmer" by W. D. Ehrhart
Seryn Croswhite is senior at a small classical christian school in Rathdrum, ID. She enjoys art, baking, and water skiing. She is looking forward to studying abroad come fall.
Aubree Hinchliff
Coeur d'Alene High School | Carla Zimmermann
"Sea-Fever" by John Masefield
"Revenge" by Letitia Elizabeth Landon
Aubree Hinchliff is a freshman who is new to the area, but is loving Coeur d'Alene High School. She is part of her school's key club and is a yellow belt in Judo.
Kelsey Breaux
Coeur d'Alene School District | Carla Zimmermann
"Blade, Unplugged" by Tim Seibles
"For My Daughter" by Weldon Kees
I have big dreams of owning my own bakery by the seaside and living in a castle when I grow up. I love baking, singing, and having fun! Treat everyone with kindness!
Taylor Berggren
Eagle High School | Tracy Harrison
"The Impossible Replication of Desire" by Lee Herrick
"On An Unsociable Family" by Elizabeth Hands
Taylor Berggren is a senior with plans to go into graphic design! She loves performing with her school’s theater department, adventuring with her friends, spending time with her family, and volunteering with elementary-age kids!
Ariana Brown
Fruitland High School | Kevin Wickersham
"The Time I've Lost In Wooing" by Thomas Moore
"Grain Memory" by Marlanda Dekine
Ariana is a freshman who adores books! She favors the theatrical arts above most activities, and participates in some sports as well. She is a fan of the medieval ages, and has a passion for fantastical stories and events. Ariana enjoys any activity that encourages creative thinking, and loves to do things with friends.
Jayda Gamino
Hansen Jr./Sr. High School | Marisa Eastman
"The Light of Stars" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
"Pinocchio" by Rae Armantrout
Jayda loves drawing writing poetry and acting in theater. Her dream job is to become an Occupational Therapist.
Audra Curl
IDLA | Amanda Swanson
"I felt a Funeral, in my Brain, (340)" by Emily Dickinson
"Acquainted with the Night" by Robert Frost
Audra Curl is a sophomore with a dream of moving to Japan and traveling the world. She hopes to become an English teacher and always help those that need it. She's a little weird but honestly who isn't.
Kylee Thomas
McCall-Donnelly High School | Ted McManus
"All Thirst Quenched" by Lois Red Elk
"To have without holding" by Marge Piercy
Kylee Thomas is a junior with hopes of becoming a music teacher! In her free time, she enjoys hanging out with friends, throwing epic dance parties, and cooking.
Amber Kunzler
Moscow High School | Robert Bailey
"Poem for My Twentieth Birthday" by Kenneth Koch
"Suppose" by Phoebe Cary
In her first year at MHS, Amber has discovered a passion for learning, connecting interests as diverse as science and poetry. She enjoys seeing how different ways of knowing can complement each other, and anticipates a career in communication.
Liam Peterson
Mountain Home High School | Taunya Page
"I am Trying to Break Your Heart" by Kevin Young
"A Thank-You Note" by Michael Ryan
Liam Peterson is a sophomore with aspirations to pursue a lifetime of acting and theatre. He loves arts and crafts, collecting mugs, and his cat Skunk!
Emma Eldred
New Plymouth High School | Pierrette Madrid
"Curandera" by Pat Mora
"A Thank-You Note" by Michael Ryan
Emma is a sophomore at New Plymouth High School who loves art, singing, music and English literature. She plays wood wind instruments- the alto and soprano saxophone. She is a winner already as she took fourth in the Veteran' of Foreign Wars essay writing contest earlier this year. She also is a member of the NPHS Student Council; she's the Historian. She is a member of the National Honor Society. And to top all of that she is on track to be her class's Valedictorian.
Karalie Potter
North Idaho STEM Charter Academy | Betsy Sims
"After the Winter" by Claude McKay
"If We Must Die" by Claude McKay
Karalie Potter is a high school junior. She is very busy with student government, Poetry Out Loud, book club, and National Honor Society; but she always loves coming to the POL meetings. She loves reading, baking new things, and hanging out with her eight other siblings.
Aariah Coile
Paradise Creek Regional High School | Susan Hodgin
"to the notebook kid" by Eve L. Ewing
"Carnival" by Rebecca Lindenberg
Aariah Coile, a senior at Paradise Creek Regional High School in Moscow, values self-expression and creativity and stage performance. Her passions for art and clothing lead her to explore the apparel and textiles field as she looks forward to her enrollment at the University of Idaho this fall.
Milo Fouch
Sage International School | Andrew Stevenson
"The Spring" by Thomas Carew
"300 Goats" by Naomi Shihab Nye
Milo Fouch is a high school freshman who has enjoyed poetry for much of his life. He admires many famous poets such as Poe, Shakespeare, Homer etc. He likes dry comedy, rock music, playing guitar, and fantasy novels.
Mia Alvarado
Sugar-Salem High School | Nancy Robinson
"Shall earth no more inspire thee" by Emily Bronte
"The Arrow and the Song" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Mia Alvarado is a junior at Sugar Salem Highschool with a love for the music and art programs. Ever since her sophomore year, you can find her in the drama department working towards making a great production with her fellow drama friends. She enjoys singing, playing her viola, drawing, and acting.
Cassius Klingenfuss
Sun Valley Community School | Jeannie Woller
"Brother, I've seen some" by Kabir
"Sorrow Is Not My Name" by Ross Gay
Cassius Klingenfuss is a junior with a passion for anything performance related. He loves acting, Taylor Swift, and talking a little too loud.
Emma Spooner
Xavier Charter School | Amanda Loosli
"Hysteria" by Dionisio D. Martinez
"Invisible Children" by Mariana Llanos
Emma Spooner is a sophomore at Xavier Charter School. She’s a member of the National Honor Society and she’s active in 4H. Emma enjoys singing, acting, playing the trumpet, and spending time with her friends and her pet cats and bunnies.
