EAST PROVIDENCE — The East Providence High School English Department held the first of what it plans to be an annual participation in the “Poetry Out Loud” recitation contest Wednesday night, Jan. 15, in the Elmasian Auditorium. The competition is based on a student’s performance of a noted work by a recognized poet.

Two seniors were selected as the top performers by a group of four judges from the community, who based their scores on each student's recitation in the following criteria: Physical Presence, Voice and Articulation, Dramatic Appropriateness, Evidence of Understanding and Overall Performance.

Sienna Adams was chosen as the first place performer and Jesiah Tapia was chosen for second place. Also competing were: Jeryn DeCosta, Sarita Seth, Mattisin Major, Ariadna Acevedo, Heidemarie Eisel, Thaliah Resende, Ashley Leiter.

Adams won for reciting “After the Disaster” by Abigail Deutsch. She advances as the EPHS to the state championship event on March 8 at the Rhode Island School of Design’s Museum of Arts in Providence, the winner of which earns a spot in the national competition in Washington D.C. April 27-29. Tapia performed “Invictus” by William Ernest Henley.

The Poetry Out Loud recitation contest was created in 2006 by the National Endowment for the Arts, intending to increase awareness in the art of performing poetry.

In a separate event the same evening, “Poetry Slam,” featuring original works by students, those who performed were: Terrance Fry, Susan Colin, Matthew Borges, Gianna Coelho, Eva Caron and Christy Long. The events were organized and overseen by EPHS English teacher Diana Lee.