Gabrielle Hunt: 2017 Nevada Poetry Out Loud State Champ

Gabrielle Hunt, a Yerington High School junior, was named Nevada’s 2017 Poetry Out Loud State Champion at the 12th Annual Nevada State Finals, held in the KNPB Channel 5 studio on March 11, 2017. She receives $1,000 and an all-expense-paid trip to represent Nevada at the National Finals in Washington, D.C. in late April. Her school also received $1,000 for poetry books and literary programs. In D.C., Hunt will vie for the title of National Champion and $50,000 in awards and school stipends against competitors from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.

Elko High School junior Cache Black placed second, and Douglas County High School junior Lea Gifford finished third. Each receives $500, and $500 for their schools to support literary programs.

This year, more than 2,800 Nevada high school students participated in Poetry Out Loud. A dynamic educational program, Poetry Out Loud begins at the local level as students learn about, memorize and finally present poetry – out loud. Participants advance from school to district competitions, and hopefully, to the Nevada State Finals

Congratulations to all the 2016 Nevada Poetry Out Loud State Finals’ competitors:

Tanner Ames, senior, Albert Lowry High School, Humboldt County
Pandora Arredondo, junior, Virginia City High School, Storey County
Cache Black, junior, Elko High School, Elko County
Nathanael Frehner, senior, Lincoln County High School, Lincoln County
Lea Gifford, junior at Douglas County High School, Douglas County
Gabrielle Hunt, junior, Yerington High School, Lyon County
Gillian Lajda, sophomore, East Career and Technical Academy, Clark County
Octavio Jesus Maldonado, junior, Beatty High School, Nye County
Emily Matuska, sophomore, Carson High School, Carson City
Skye Matuzak, sophomore, Truckee Meadows Community College High School,  Washoe County
Erica Jean Peterson, sophomore, Nevada Virtual Academy, Nevada Virtual
Christopher J. Wilbur, junior, Pershing County High School, Pershing Council