Saratoga Springs High School student Liam McKenna will go to Washington, D.C., Monday and Tuesday to compete in a national poetry reading contest against 52 other high school students in the country.
McKenna, a freshman, won the New York State Poetry Out Loud contest. He’s now fighting for a $20,000 prize, and the title of Poetry Out Loud national champion.
Poetry Out Loud is the nation’s largest youth poetry recitation competition. The program encourages the study of great poetry. It gives students an opportunity to master public speaking skills, build self-confidence and learn about their literary heritage.
The semifinals take place from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday. Nine students will advance to the National Finals on Tuesday. Both events will be webcast live.