Loving High School has a lot of poets, and it turns out that they do know it. There was poetry in motion during a special poetry slam Feb. 28 at New Mexico State University- Carlsbad sponsored by the Carlsbad Anti Drug/Gang Coalition.
The students who attended were all Loving High School students, said Annella Flores, the high school’s distance education coordinator.
“We wanted to do something different,” Flores said. “Students have practiced and put together their poems for the last month during lunch breaks and after school.”
In all, 24 poems were performed, including some in the non-competitive division. The event was emceed by LHS students Austin Runner and Michael Martinez, who kept the large crowd in stitches with original planned and impromptu humor. Loving Coach and teacher Gary Carrasco also sponsored prizes for contest winners.
The next slam will be held in late April, and Carlsbad High School teachers have also expressed an interest in participation. There will be an open division and a division with underage drinking prevention as the theme. The latter will have premium-value prizes. All local students in grades 8-12 are welcome to enter at no charge.
Poetry slams are gaining popularity worldwide as a celebration of the spoken word. Here in Carlsbad, they offer opportunities for socialization and self-expression while offering students a chance to improve literacy and public speaking skills in a supportive setting. Adult attendees of the two local slams sponsored by the Coalition so far have expressed amazement at the quality and depth of students’ work. It is anticipated that this event will grow in participation in the coming year. For more information on entries or sponsorship, please call Eve Flanigan, 575-642-4825 or Annella Florez, 575- 706-2399.
Winners / poem titles in each category were:
Open Topic Category
1st place: Danny Williams – My Father’s Daughter
2nd place: Bianca Soliz – Cupid’s Humor
3rd place: Austin Cowart – A Hero’s Dream
Drug Awareness Category
1st: Kayla Cordova and Danny Williams – My Victory
2nd: Alyssa Hendren and April Anaya – Are You Scared?
3rd: Sara Peppin – A Perfect Star
