Butte, Whitefish Teens Win Montana State Poetry Out Loud Honors

• Eric Heidle
• March 11 2024

On Saturday, March 2^nd fifteen high school students from schools statewide squared off on the stage of the Grandstreet Theatre in Helena to compete in the 2024 Montana Poetry Out Loud state finals. And when the dust had settled and final scores were tallied three juniors—two from Butte High School and one from Whitefish High School, had taken top honors.

 
Molly Ogan from Butte won first place with her final-round recitation of “Nothing to Do” by James Ephriam McGirt, after reciting “The Strengths of Fields” by James L. Dickey and “Requiem’ by Camille T. Dungy in Saturday’s two semifinal rounds. Unsurprisingly, Molly plans to attend the University of Montana to study to become a high school English teacher and published poet.

In second place was Molly’s Butte High classmate Laurina Barbosa, who recited “One Art” by Elizabeth Bishop, “April Midnight” by Arthur Symons and “All This and More” by Mary Karr in successive rounds. Originally an alternate for the finals, Laurina learned just a day and a half before the event that she would be competing after another student had to drop out due to illness. In third place, Whitefish’s Jake Dunker used his experience in Speech and Debate competitions to deliver polished renditions of “Life Cycle of Common Man” by Howard Nemerov, “The Paradox” by Paul Laurence Dunbar and “In a London Drawingroom” by George Eliot.

By winning this year’s final, Molly Ogan will travel with her family to Washington D.C. on April 30^th to represent Montana in the National Poetry Out Loud Finals. She’ll be competing for the top prize of $20,000 along with one student from every American state and jurisdiction. Now in its 19^th year, Poetry Out Loud is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts, the Poetry Foundation, and is administered by state arts agencies, including the Montana Arts Council. Participation begins in schools, with teachers providing coaching and guidance in preparation for regional competitions which decide each year’s state finalists. The Mining City’s strong showing this year is due in part to Scott Cooney, Butte High School English teacher and long-time participating Poetry Out Loud educator, who led the program in multiple classes and provided leadership and support for fellow Butte High teachers. This year, 120 Butte High students vied for the top three spots, including our State Champion and Runner-up.

Montanans of all ages are invited to congratulate Molly and cheer her on as she competes in next month’s National Finals. Last year’s Montana champion, Wica-ta-wi Hoksina Brown of Polson, was among nine final competitors for the national title, and Molly is poised to go far as well. And Montanans will be able watch as she competes: National Finals will be broadcast on May 1 & 2 via the National Endowment for the Arts website: https://www.arts.gov/initiatives/poetry-out-loud