Hawaii Student Places 2nd in Poetry Out Loud National Finals, Washington DC

High school students from across the nation competed in the national finals of 12th Poetry Out Loud: National Recitation Contest in Washington D.C.

Returning Hawaii State champion, Nicholas Amador (11th grade), of Punahou School placed 2nd in the national finals and was awarded $10,000 from the National Endowment for the Arts. Nicholas performed: Dover Beach, by Matthew Arnold; Lions, by Sandra McPherson; Windy City, by Stuart Dybek. In May of 2016, Nicholas, represented the state and took 3rd place in the 2016 Poetry Out Loud National Finals.

SFCA Executive Director JoNathan Johnson responded to the second place finish by Hawai`i student Nicholas Amador with this statement;

"We appreciate the way the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation have made it possible to shine a light on the American tradition of poetry and recitation. We value the next generation and their capacity to communicate accurately and clearly.

Partnering with the Honolulu Theatre for Youth is a wonderful example of how working with local organizations helps us expand our reach into all of the communities in our island state, and highlight the talent and hard work of our youth on a national stage. We are grateful for the hard work and dedication of the Honolulu Theatre for Youth and our shared mission to support arts and culture in Hawai`i.

We congratulate Nicholas on his second place win and look forward to how he will use his public speaking skills in the future."

Poetry Out Loud is presented in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation, and administered in Hawaii by HTY and the Hawaii State Foundation on Culture and the Arts. Over 310,000 high school students nationwide participated in the 2017 event. "This is the 12th year that the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation have partnered with U.S. state arts agencies to support Poetry Out Loud, a contest that encourages the nation's youth to learn about great poetry-both classic and contemporary-through memorization and recitation. This program helps students master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn about their literary heritage." NEA Website

About Honolulu Theatre for Youth

Honolulu Theatre for Youth is Hawaii's non-profit professional theatre company providing theatre and drama education programs that make a difference in the lives of Hawaii's young people and families. Founded in 1955, HTY is recognized the world over as one of America's most honored theatres. Explore HTY on the web at www.htyweb.org.

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