Poets Prep For Slam Finale

Lona Richards - Hesperia High School

Keera Simon - Grant High School

Taylor Pasch- White Cloud High School

Kaitlyn Bergman- Fremont High School

Gregory Hearth -Newaygo High School

 

​Recently we did a story on the upcoming Poetry Slam, a project funded by the Fremont Area Community Foundation aimed at giving voice to the creative work of our young people.
https://www.nearnorthnow.com/features-and-fun/setting-the-stage-for-a-slam

Newaygo ELA instructor Donna Grodus serves as  Project Coordinator and along with instructors from each of our 5 area high schools, has helped coach the young writers, eventually selecting a finalist from each school who will compete for the top prize, a cool $1,000. Each of the finalists have already received $100 for making it to the ‘final five’.
Kaitlyn Bergman, Keera Simon, Lona Richards,  Gregory Hearth, and Taylor Pasch will be on the Grant Fine Arts Stage May 17th, performing their poetry to all in attendance.

Ms. Grodus: “These young poets have been so genuine, raw and authentic when sharing their flaws, struggles, and triumphs!  I love the county-wide collaboration and support from the poets, educators and community members. These young high school poets have already captured our hearts and this opportunity to write, perform and publish poetry is what will unite our schools and communities in Newaygo County.”

Each poet is meeting with Sprout, also known as KFG. Sprout coached the Grand Rapids Slam Team for the National Poetry Slam for a few years and has been teaching with the Diatribe Organization. The poets will meet with Sprout for a one-hour virtual workshop at their own high school during the school day.  

Each poet will also be creating a visual presentation that will run behind them as they perform their poem at the Grant Fine Arts Center on May 17 at 7 p.m.  Any high school student from Fremont, Hesperia, Grant, Newaygo and White Cloud who submitted a poem for the competition will have the opportunity to have their poem published in an anthology which will be published after the Poetry Slam.  Newaygo County Students, Educators and Community Members will be impressed and genuinely moved by the themes in the students' poems. ​