NEC Hosts Two Programs for High School Students
New England College was the host site for the recent Poetry Out Loud Western Regional Semi-Final Competition on March 5, 2009. This national poetry recitation program is sponsored by the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, and The Poetry Foundation, with support from the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation. Participants from 26 high schools across the state competed in the regional semi-final competitions with 13 high schools representing the western region. Winners of the semi-final competition will meet again for the state finals at Keene State College on March 21 and state winners will travel to Washington, D.C. in April for the national competition.
In honor of the Poetry Out Loud program, New England College will award a scholarship to each of the finalists and alternates. The amount will be based on the student’s final high school academic GPA and will range between $10,000 and $15,000 each year while enrolled at the College. According to Dr. Michele Perkins, President of New England College, “It has been the experience of New England College that finalists in the Poetry Out Loud program possess many of the qualities of academic scholarship, discipline, and perseverance, that are strong indicators of future success in a college setting.” Perkins, who was a judge at the 2006 state finals said, “New England College was pleased to welcome these outstanding high school students and their families to our campus. One can only be inspired by the immense talent that was demonstrated here.”
New England College will also host the New Hampshire Young Writers Conference on Saturday, March 14. This day-long program, also for high school students, will feature workshops, presentations, and open readings. The keynote address will be given by noted author and MacArthur Fellow, David Carroll. Carroll is the author of three natural histories: The Year of the Turtle, Trout Reflections, and Swampwalker’s Journal. The program will also offer a workshop for teachers. “New England College has sponsored or hosted the New Hampshire Young Writers Conference for several years,” noted Michele Perkins, President of the College. “Writing is such an integral part of our academic programming, we are pleased to encourage this creative and rewarding process with high school students as well.”
