On Jan. 14, 2026, students performed poetry in the library for staff and families. Poetry Out Loud has been an annual West High tradition since 2005. Students participating in this competition memorize...
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....
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....
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...
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....
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,...
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...