Indiana's Emma Libersky Among Finalists For National Poetry Out Loud Competition

(INDIANAPOLIS) – Indiana State Poetry Out Loud champion Emma Libersky advanced to the final nine competitors vying for the National Poetry Out Loud title April 28-29, 2015 in Washington, D.C.

Libersky, a senior at Plymouth High School in Plymouth, Indiana qualified for the national championships by winning an unprecedented third consecutive Indiana State Poetry Out Loud championship. It was her first appearance among the competition’s finalist round.

Libersky recited three poems to qualify as one of the nine finalists: “A March in the Ranks Hard-Prest, and the Road Unknown” by Walt Whitman, “Ode on a Grecian Urn,” by John Keats, and “American Solotude” by Grace Schulman.

“Emma effectively communicated her profound understanding of each of the works in her recitations,” said Sarah Fronczek, Indiana Poetry Out Loud state coordinator. “She has a very special presentation style that convinces the audience she truly wants to share a poem with them rather than perform for them.”

Maeva Ordaz, 18, a senior at West Anchorage High School in Anchorage, Alaska won the title of 2015 Poetry Out Loud National Champion.

Students and schools received $50,000 in awards and school stipends at the National Finals, including $20,000 for the Poetry Out Loud National Champion.

For more information, visit http://www.poetryoutloud.org.