During the past five weeks, Local Final Competitions of the 119th Miriam Lutcher Stark Contest in Reading and Declamation, a program sponsored by the Nelda C. and H.J. Lutcher Stark Foundation, have been held at each Orange County public high school: Bridge City, Little Cypress-Mauriceville, Orangefield, Vidor and West Orange-Stark.
Between preliminary and Local Final rounds, 100 students competed across the five schools. Winners will advance to the County Final round of the competition.
“We know that a great deal of effort goes into preparing and presenting these selections, and we are extremely proud of all contestants who competed in this year's contest,” said Hannah Danielson, director of education for The W.H. Stark House.
Each second-place winner in the categories of Declamation and Interpretive Reading was awarded $1,500 in scholarships from the Stark Foundation, while the two first-place winners were awarded $2,000 in scholarships.
The first-place winners from each high school will go on to compete at the County Final of the Stark Reading Contest, which is scheduled for Sunday, April 23, at 2 p.m. at the Lutcher Theater. Finalists will compete for additional scholarships worth $2,500 and $5,000.
“We look forward to the advanced level of competition that takes place every year at the County Final and invite the community to come out and show their support for our local students,” Danielson said.
Each local final competition was coordinated by the school’s director for the Stark Reading Contest: Melanie Claybar (LCM), Ron Chevalier (OHS), Stacy Webb (Vidor), Mason Franco (WOS) and Hannah Landry (BCHS).
Vidor High School winners (left to right): Grant Masters (second in Interpretive Reading), Ashley Callahan (first in Interpretive Reading), Ysela Spencer (first in Declamation), and Addison Biestel (second in Declamation).
Little Cypress-Mauriceville High School winners (left to right): Abigayle Welch (second in Interpretive Reading), Sarah Howell (first in Interpretive Reading), Jessica Ridout (first in Declamation), and Gabrielle Moore (second in Declamation).
Orangefield High School winners (left to right): Kaitlyn Jenkins (first in Declamation), Madeleine Wernig (second in Declamation), Matthew Whitten (first in Interpretive Reading), and Sadie Prouse (second in Interpretive Reading).
West Orange-Stark High School winners (left to right): Ryan Paz (2nd Place in Declamation), Alexis Baumgartner (1st Place in Declamation), Ciara Dunn (2nd Place in Interpretive Reading), and Camryn Nevils (1st Place in Interpretive Reading).
Bridge City High School winners (left to right): Chloe' Doyle (second in Declamation), Ava Gassen (first in Declamation), Raema Lyda (first in Interpretive Reading), and Ava Vicknair (second in Interpretive Reading).