Bridgewater-Raritan Freshman Advances to Poetry Out Loud State Finals

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — A Bridgewater-Raritan High School freshman has advanced to the state championships in the Poetry Out Loud competition. Noelle Sapp will compete in the New Jersey State Finals for Poetry Out Loud on March 3.

Sapp qualified for the state competition after being named a finalist at the Poetry Out Loud Regionals on Feb. 2 at the Mayo Performing Arts Center in Morristown.

She will now participate in the state finals at the Count Basie Center for the Arts in Red Bank. The competition showcases student recitations of poetry.

Sapp initially earned her spot in the regional competition by winning Bridgewater-Raritan High School’s 11th annual Poetry Out Loud competition on Jan. 9.

Dr. Mark Jarmon, Supervisor of English at Bridgewater-Raritan High School, expressed his enthusiasm regarding Sapp's qualification.

"Poetry Out Loud is always a memorable evening at Bridgewater-Raritan High School, and this year’s group was especially impressive," Jarmon said. "As the Supervisor of English and an avid reader of poetry, I’m thrilled that one of our students will be advancing to the state competition!"

If Sapp wins the state championship, she will advance to the National Finals of Poetry Out Loud. The national competition is scheduled to be held from April 27 to April 29 in Washington, D.C.