Sophomore Emma Hackworth has made GRC history as the first student to win back-to-back Poetry Out Loud school competitions.

Hackworth was named the winner by a panel of three judges in the virtual competition.

Reciting The Albatross by Kate Bass, she competed against 21 other students to memorize, analyze, and effectively recite poetry.

“Emma is incredibly talented, and her success in recitation comes from a keen dedication to honoring the text,” said Poetry Out Loud coordinator and English teacher Eloise Lynch. “It’s clear she studied her poem carefully, enabling her to draw out subtle glimmers of emotions.”

The judges included Jonnie Genova, an MFA candidate at Colorado State University, where she serves as an associate editor for the Colorado Review.

Hackworth moves forward to the state competition March 2.

A win there would move her on to nationals and a chance to win $20,000 in scholarship awards.

“It felt incredible to find out I won again,” Hackworth said. “It was such a shock to me when I won last year, so it meant a lot to be able to compete again during these unconventional times.”

Hackworth will submit pre-recorded videos of her poems (three poems are performed at the state level) and the judging will be done live during a virtual event where they will show everyone’s poems.

“Last year, the state competition was in person which was such an amazing experience to be able to meet so many people and recite my poems on stage,” Hackworth said. “Although virtual, I am so grateful for the opportunity to compete again because I wasn’t sure if they would even have a competition this year.”

To view all video submission, please click here.