LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Lake County Arts Council has announced that, for the fourth year, it will participate in “Poetry Out Loud,” a national recitation contest which is sponsored by the California Arts Council, the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation.

This is an exciting program for students in grades nine through 12 who have an opportunity to memorize selected poetry and recite it in a pyramid-designed competition, which begins in the classroom, moves to the school and county level.

Next is the state completion at the Capitol in Sacramento. The state winner proceeds, with all expenses paid, to a national competition in Washington, D.C. Scholarship dollars and school awards are made at the state and national levels.

Poetry is meant to be recited for the cadence and the interpretation of the poem in voice and posture. This program gives back to young people, and to the listener, the value of language that is well written and well spoken.

There is also an impact on the student in memorizing great pieces of poetry and then presenting them to first a few peers and, with greater confidence and panache, to an ever-increasing audience.

You can view some of these fine students by visiting the California Arts Council’s Web site at www.cac.ca.gov.

The program gives confidence to shy and quiet students to step upon a stage and recite a piece of poetry with conviction in their interpretation of the content of the poem.

Michele Krueger once again will take the lead on bringing this program to the schools of Lake County.

Anyone who wishes to participate in the program – student, teacher or support person – should contact Krueger at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The Lake County Arts Council extended its thanks to all the students who participated in last year’s Poetry Out Loud, and congratulated Mellany Watson for doing Lake County proud finals at the Capitol in Sacramento.