The Official Student News Site of Parkway West High

Pathfinder
The Official Student News Site of Parkway West High

Pathfinder
The Official Student News Site of Parkway West High

Pathfinder
Beaming after winning the regional competition, senior Zoe Skidis stands with English teacher Andria Benmuvhar. Skidis won the school-wide competition for Poetry Out Loud, the regional competition, and went to compete at the state competition. “We went up there, and it went really smoothly. I loved listening to the other poems. It's a little harder to focus on other people's poems because you're nervous for your own, but it was still really cool,” Skidis said.

Speak Up

Grace Loethen, Staff Writer • April 12, 2023

Stage lights shine brightly in senior Zoe Skidis’ eyes. Standing in front of a large crowd, about to give her regional presentation, Skidis can barely see her parents and English teacher Andria Benmuvhar....

Junior Cecilia “Sisi” Olmedilla takes the stage at the Poetry Out Loud competition. Olmedilla selected “I am Offering This Poem” by Jimmy Santiago Baca from the website and related it to her grandfather. “This poem was about offering your honest and humble love. So I decided to think about him and dedicate the words to him,” Olmedilla said.

Junior and foreign exchange student Cecilia Olmedilla finds her voice

Lily West, Staff Writer • May 16, 2022

After seeing a poster for the Poetry Out Loud competition in her English teacher’s classroom, junior and foreign exchange student Cecilia Olmedilla entered and won the schoolwide competition last December....

Senior Maddie Hoffmann celebrates her success at the 2020 Poetry Out Loud regional competition with English teacher Andrea Benmuvhar. Hoffmann received a certificate and a trophy as well as a flower for her achievement. “I never thought that I’d go up on stage and force myself [to perform], but I think I took my confidence a step further. I’m very proud of what I’m now capable of doing. I’m glad that I overcame my stage fright as well as testing out my knowledge on poetry,” Hoffmann said.

Senior Maddie Hoffmann shines at Poetry Out Loud competition

Karina Christ, Staff Writer • March 25, 2020

Getting over her stage fright and having only three poems to compete with, senior Maddie Hoffmann came in third place at this year's regional Poetry Out Loud competition with her love for reading and writing. “I’ve...

Senior Ann Truka and English teacher Andria Benmuvhar pose with roses and the Regional Poetry Out Loud Champion trophy. Truka has competed in Poetry Out Loud for four years in a row. “I was thrilled that Ann first won the school competition because she had won previously as a freshman. It felt like a nice bookend experience. The regional competition was very tight—everyone gave incredibly strong performances—so when Ann won I was very excited and proud of her,” Benmuvhar said.

Senior Ann Truka advances in Poetry Out Loud competition

Carly Anderson, Conceptual Editor-in-Chief • March 7, 2018

After four years of competing in Poetry Out Loud [POL], senior Ann Truka placed first in the St. Louis Regional Competition and has qualified to perform at the state competition in Jefferson City, Mo....

Emily Bauer created a GroupMe with the other 52 state winners.

Emily Bauer performs in the top nine at Poetry Out Loud Nationals

Gabriel Weber, Staff Writer • May 3, 2017

Of 310,000 competitors, senior Emily Bauer qualified to go to Washington, D.C. on April 25-26, 2017 as one of nine students in the Poetry Out Loud Finals. “It felt so crazy. Before Nationals,...

Emily Bauer with Poetry out Loud sponsor Andria Benmuvhar at the St. Louis Poetry Out Loud competition.

Senior Emily Bauer participates in Poetry out Loud 2017

Gaby Van Winkle, Staff Writer • March 6, 2017

Senior Emily Bauer will be representing St. Louis County at the Poetry Out Loud State competition in Jefferson City, MO on March 9.   “It feels great, and it’s such an honor to have gotten this...