Congratulations to WT Junior Tori H. for taking first place in the Western Pennsylvania Regional Competition of the Poetry Out Loud Poetry Recitation Contest for high school students on Saturday, February 27. Tori will advance to the state competition, where she will compete against other regional winners on March 15th at the Governor's Mansion in Harrisburg. Upper School English teacher Jill Kazmierczak says of Tori’s performance, “she was superb.” Tori recited two poems, Heaven by Cathy Song and For the Young Who Want To by Marge Piercey.

The Poetry Out Loud program was launched in 2006 and uses a pyramid structure that begins at the classroom level. Winners advance to the school-wide competition, then to the state competition, and ultimately to the National Finals.

Following the state finals, the National Finals and Semifinals will be held in Washington, DC, April 26 and 27, 2010. Good luck to Tori at the state competition!