By Stevie Keck ’26 

Maddie Weiss ’25 of New Rochelle, NY, was selected as Mercersburg Academy’s 2025 Poetry Out Loud representative and secured first runner-up in the regional competition, which took place Thursday, January 30, in Hanover, PA. 

Weiss was selected through an open audition coordinated by faculty members Michele Poacelli P ’24, ’26 and Kelly Dowling P ’21, ’21, ’23, who continuously worked with Weiss to prepare her for the regional competition and to hone in on her skills. “You have to analyze the text you’re performing and embody it to the best of your ability,” said Weiss. “This requires a clear voice, varying tones, and connection with the audience.”  

Poetry Out Loud is a national arts education program that encourages the study of poetry by offering free educational materials and a recitation competition for high school students, according to the Poetry Out Loud website. Poetry Out Loud helps high school students master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn about literary history and contemporary life. It is also a partnership of the National Endowment for the Arts, the Poetry Foundation, and the state and jurisdictional arts agencies. The program creates community and connection. 

Every contestant has to choose three poems from Poetry Out Loud’s website. One has to be less than 25 lines, one pre-20th century, and the last one is their choice. Weiss chose “The Watchers” by William Stanley Braithwaite, “Thoughtless Cruelty” by Charles Lamb, and “Meditation on a Grapefruit” by Craig Arnold. The process for picking the poems involves going through Poetry Out Loud’s poem bank and “considering which ones really resonate with you,” said Poacelli. 

The goal of Poetry Out Loud is always to win; however, competing in the competition has allowed Weiss to prepare and gain experience with performing. “I encourage people who love poetry and performance to consider auditioning for Poetry Out Loud next year! It’s a super fun process,” said Weiss. 

“I would say to go for it if you’re remotely interested,” said Poacelli. “The longer you spend with the three poems, the more and more you discover about each.”

In addition to performing poetry, Weiss considers herself a poet. “I write some of my own poetry, and it has become an outlet for me to jot down my thoughts and be creative,” Weiss said. “When an idea pops into my head, I simply write it down and come back to it when I’m ready to write. I also love reading others’ work!”