Wharton wins third in state poetry event

Parker School junior Aidan Wharton finished in third place in the State Poetry Out Loud competition March 18 at St. Andrew’s Tenney Theatre in Honolulu. Wharton qualified to compete at the state level after taking first place at the school level at Parker on March 1.

The contest is sponsored by the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation. It is held annually at high schools throughout the United States and, according to the Poetry Out Loud website, “encourages the nation’s youth to learn about great poetry through memorization and recitation” and “helps students master public speaking skills, build self-confidence and learn about their literary heritage.” For more information, visit parkershool.net.