Milford High School senior Rebecca Wisniewski represents Delaware this weekend in the annual Poetry Out Loud competition.
Wisniewski is one of 55 students competing in the 2021 competition - starting this weekend with the semi-finals.
Wisniewski says she’s always been interested in poetry.
“I remember honestly like in 3rd grade - I was like a little writer. I wrote a lot of little poems in our daily journals; but I haven’t done it since," said Wisniewski. "Of course, I’ve always been interested in reading poetry. In classes we read a lot. And I’ve always had an interest in it, honestly.”
The competition is virtual this year. Each student, including Wisniewski, submitted video recordings of their poetry recitations, which are reviewed and scored by judges who have expertise in poetry, performance and literary arts. They will choose 9 finalists.
Wisniewski submitted “How to Triumph Like A Girl” by Ada Limon, “I Felt A Funeral In My Brain” by Emily Dickinson and “Domestic Situation” by Ernest Hilbert.
The semifinalists’ recordings will be webcast beginning at noon on Sunday, May 2, 2021. The finalists announced at the end of the webcast with compete in the May 27, 2021 finals.
The champion receives a $20,000 grand prize.
Wisniewski says she’s ready to see if she advances to the finals and already has plans how to spend the grand prize if she becomes the national champion.
You can listen to Rebecca's entire interview with DPM's Kelli Steele here:
Delaware Public Media' s arts coverage is made possible, in part, by support from the Delaware Division of the Arts, a state agency dedicated to nurturing and supporting the arts in Delaware, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts.
