High School Hosts Poetry Slam

On Friday, February 19, 2016, Project Dream “Writers With Altitude” sponsored their first Poetry Slam at the Lake County High School Performing Arts Center.   The event involved students and staff from LCHS, CMC, community leaders and groups.  Literacy was celebrated and the intergenerational presentations (poets ranging in age from 62 to 13 years of age) showcased the talent within our school and community.  The Audience Award went to Sam Hall; the Judges’ Awards went to Makala Schnablegger, Makayla Garza, and Dakota Eanes.   Community members who attended commented about the passion and voice of LCHS students who demonstrated family and school PRIDE.

Judges for the evening were LCHS Principal Christina Gosselin, Leadville Mayor Greg Labbe, and Lake County Sheriff’s Deputy Danielle Gonzales.  CMC student Jacob Guerrero was the evening’s announcer.  Poets included LCHS students Dakota Eanes, Makayla Garza, Sam Hall, Travis Pennington, Stephanie Reveles, Shanea Riley and Makala Schnablegger and LCHS staff members Cody Jump, Destinee Lukianoff (reading a poem for LCHS student Alexander Maes who could not attend), Gabriel Madrone, Jared Oubre, and Devin Riggs.   The Poetry Slam also featured guest poet Carol Bellhouse, who was a 1971 graduate of LCHS.  The technical and stage director was Scott Carroll.

A reception and awards’ presentation was held in the LCHS cafeteria after the Poetry Slam.  Refreshments were provided by Project Dream Cooking Club.  Donations for the evening were gratefully received from Mountain High Pies/Leadville, Book Mine/Leadville, The Book Haven/Salida, Next Page Books & Nosh Book Store/Frisco, as well as Erin Farrow/Leadville.  Informational tables were hosted by Cloud City Writers, the Lake County High School Library, and the 21^st Century Community Learning Center.