Mepham students win Poetry Out Loud honors

W.C. Mepham High School recently announced the winners of the school contest for Poetry Out Loud: National Recitation Contest. The student winners were Nicholas McCormick, 11th grade, first place; Ryan Chand, ninth grade, second place; and Elyssa Gershman, ninth grade, third place. The competition, presented in partnership with the New York State Council on the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation, is part of a national program that encourages high school students to learn about great poetry through memorization, performance and competition. More than 600 Mepham students took part in the competition. Joining the students are, at left, English teacher Nicole Maresca, and right, English Department Chairwoman Marie Netto.