Seventeen students to compete to advance to
National Finals in Washington, DC
Smyrna, Del. (February 13, 2020) –The free recitation contest will host its state final competition at Smyrna Opera House on Tuesday, February 25 at 7 p.m. (snow date: Thursday, February 27). The finalists will compete for the opportunity to represent Delaware and advance to the National Finals in Washington, DC from April 27-29, 2020, where $50,000 in awards and school stipends will be distributed.
This year’s finals judges are:
- Traci Currie, Spoken Word Artist & Program Director, Arts Work Summer Youth Apprenticeship, City of Wilmington
- Reverend Dr. John G. Moore, Director, Philanthropy and Engagement, United Way of Delaware
- Heather Morrissey, Director of Operations, Delaware Art Museum
- Janet Owens, Dean of Instruction – Humanities, Sussex Academy of Arts and Sciences
- James Weiler, Chair, English Department, Woodbridge High School
- Jesse Zuba, Assistant Professor of English, Delaware State University
Other participants:
- Tina Betz (Mistress of Ceremonies), Director, Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs, City of Wilmington
- Debora Hansen (Prompter), Former Education Associate, Visual and Performing Arts, Delaware Department of Education
- Christian Wills (Accuracy Judge), Former Poetry Out Loud contestant, Artist/Poet/Lyricist
2020 Delaware State Finalists
| Name | Community |
| Josh-Samuel Ikechi-Konkwo | Cape Henlopen High School |
| Sam McGarvey | Delaware Valley Classical School |
| Ian Hayes | Dover High School |
| Natalia Castillo Vazquez | Hodgson Vo-Tech High School |
| Willy Vasquez | Indian River High School |
| Rebecca Wisniewski | Milford Senior High School |
| Shalom Ighodaro | MOT High School |
| Daniel Patrick Johnson | Mount Sophia Academy |
| Reuben Everhart | Newark Charter High School |
| Mia daPonte | Red Lion Christian Academy |
| Charmaine Pasicolan | Saint Mark’s High School |
| Camille Decker | Sanford School |
| Alex Free | Seaford Senior High School |
| Penn Smith | Sussex Central High School |
| Julie Griswold | Tatnall School |
| Sarah Zhu | Wilmington Christian School |
| Estelle Hegenbarth | Wilmington Friends School |
About the Delaware Division of the Arts
The Delaware Division of the Arts is an agency of the State of Delaware. Together with its advisory body, the Delaware State Arts Council, the Division administers grants and programs that support arts programming, educate the public, increase awareness of the arts, and integrate the arts into all facets of Delaware life. Funding for Division programs is provided by annual appropriations from the Delaware General Assembly and grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency. For more information about the Delaware Division of the Arts, visit arts.delaware.gov or call 302-577-8278.
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Contact: Leeann Wallett, Program Officer, Communications and Marketing
302-577-8280, leeann.wallett@delaware.gov