Finalists for the 2018 WHS Poetry Out Loud competition are, from left, sophomores Dylan Fittro, Braden Harris, Trey Johnston, Quinn Zeleny, Elise Cejka, Sophie Holst, Jaquelyn Perkins, Alyssa Walla, Zoe Christenson, Jenna Masek, and Grace Wirka.

Launch the media gallery 1 player

Finalists for the 2018 WHS Poetry Out Loud competition are, from left, sophomores Dylan Fittro, Braden Harris, Trey Johnston, Quinn Zeleny, Elise Cejka, Sophie Holst, Jaquelyn Perkins, Alyssa Walla, Zoe Christenson, Jenna Masek, and Grace Wirka.

Jaquelyn Perkins takes top award in 2018 WHS Poetry Out Loud competition; advances to Feb. 17 regional @ Joslyn

Elise Cejka finishes runner-up; Zoe Christenson finishes 3rd

February 08, 2018

The 2018 Wahoo High School finals for Poetry Out Loud were held in the Wahoo Performance Arts Theater on Wednesday, February 7.

Eleven Wahoo sophomores out of the 90 who participated in Poetry Out Loud earned their way into the school finals.

Jaquelyn Perkins captured first place with her recitations of the poems “Hope is the Thing with Feathers” by Emily Dickinson, and “In a Dark Time” by Theodore Roethke.

Elise Cejka won second place by reciting “A Poison Tree” by William Blake, and “All Hallows’ Eve” by Dorothea Tanning.

Zoe Christensen took the third place trophy with her versions of “Dirge in Woods” by George Meredith, and “April Midnight” by Arthur Symons.

Other students participating in the finals were Grace Wirka, Braden Harris, Dylan Fittro, Trey Johnston, Jenna Masek, Quinn Zeleny, Sophie Holst, and Alyssa Walla. WPS Media Director Dave Privett, WPS Director of Learning Josh Snyder, and the 2018 Poetry Out Loud winner Lara Celesky judged the contest. WHS Language Arts Instructor Larry Fangman judged the accuracy of the recitals.

Perkins will now perform her poems at the regional competition at the Joslyn Art Museum in Omaha at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 17. She will then compete at the state finals at The Sheldon Museum of Art on Sunday, March 11 at 1:30 p.m.