Published Tuesday, March 04, 2008 9:27 AM
Updated Tuesday, March 04, 2008 9:28 AM

 

Blanchard, Moultrie compete in poetry contest

Two local students are competing for the chance to advance to the Poetry Out Loud National Finals in Washington, D.C. this April.

Students from high schools throughout the state competed in one of three regional competitions – Lowcountry, Midlands and Upstate – from Feb. 9–24. Three finalists from each contest are advancing to the state finals, which will take place March 8 at the Columbia Museum of Art during the University of South Carolina’s Poetry Initiative.

Winners of the regional contest include Ashley Blanchard of Timberland High School, and Iesha Moultrie of Berkeley High School.

The state champion will receive $200, a $500 stipend for the purchase of poetry books for their school library, and an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C., to compete in the National Endowment of the Arts’ Poetry Out Loud National Finals in April.

A state runner up will also receive $100 and their library will receive a $200 poetry book stipend.