Jefferson students win poetry contest

Star Beacon

March 05, 2009 10:42 am

— JEFFERSON — Four-teen Jefferson Area High School juniors and seniors were selected for publication in “A Celebration of Poets” after participating in the annual poetry contest sponsored by Creative Communications. The winning students include seniors Morgan Charles and Angel Fantozzi and juniors Cody Dickson, Chris Dreger, Kelsey Hruska, Elizabeth Hubler, Donald Johnson III, Joslin Landis, Brittany Miller, Ray Nicholson, Jonathan Niemi, Kirsten Signer, Dayna Stevens and Lizzy Ziemski.
After selecting the best 30 of more than 100 poems submitted, Karen Klein, English instructor, said she submitted them to the publisher, who selected the 14 winning poems for publication.
“Every year the students who win are surprised, and I think that is so exciting,” said Mrs. Klein.
“I was very surprised. I didn’t think it was that good. I was really happy,” said Kelsey Hruska.
The hard work of creating a worthy poem comes with a reward. Being published in the book of poems is something new for most of the participants.
“I was surprised and excited. I’ve never had anything published,” Morgan Charles said.
“A lot of people don’t know that I like to write. I am happy that I won,” Cody Dickson said.
And still for other winners, the contest did more than get them excited about being published. It encouraged self-discovery.
“I was excited to find out that I have poetic ability. It was a cool discovery,” said Kirsten Signer.
This win being phase one means the 14 students will now be entered in phase two of the contest, Mrs. Klein said. The winners of phase two will receive a free copy of the anthology and $50. Since there were 14 students who won the first phase, the school will receive a free copy of “A Celebration of Poets,” which will be donated to the library.
The Jefferson Players strike again with their spring production of “The Clumsy Custard Horror Show” to be held 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday in the Jefferson Area High School multi-purpose room.
“The setting of the play is in the land of Zob,” said Carolyn Behr-Jerome, play director. “It is in a time that is medieval meets modern day.”
The play is about King Dumb, played by senior Dan Rice, who is ready for his daughter, Princess Prince, played by junior Emily Jeppesen, to select a husband and all the Knights of the Realm are anxious to claim her hand, Mrs. Behr-Jerome said.
Among the students performing in the show are senior Joanne Beckwith, playing Arnis Boheme; junior Tyler Starcher, playing Swarshbuck Valpariso; sophomore Tyler Edge, playing Worfle; junior Matt Osborne, playing Dacron; junior Nicole Hamper, playing Alphasia; junior Donald Johnson, playing Malforce; junior Sarah Paul, playing Polly; senior Jacquelyn Baker, playing Ester; senior Jasmine Chappell and freshman Paige Neely, playing the two heads.
Also involved in the play are sophomore Travis Ellsworth, playing Sir Prize; sophomore Colton Hinkle, playing Sir Vival; junior Josh Simon, playing Sir Cumference; senior Stephanie Edge, playing Sir Plus; senior Heather Sapatka and freshman Rachel Burr, playing Clumsy Custard; sophomores Maddi Gillespie and Sam Oliver, playing ushers; and senior Julia Mansfield, playing director, said Mrs. Behr-Jerome.
“The play is interesting and funny. We’ve been working hard to produce a successful show,” said Chappell. “I chose this play because in my first year of school here, this was the first play performed,” Mrs. Behr-Jerome said. “I thought it would be a fun play for the last show in this school’s multi-purpose room.”
The play is expected to be a hit with the people who come to the show. “I think the audience will really enjoy the play,” said Mrs. Behr-Jerome. “There is a lot of audience participation.”
“I think this play will be very successful. The cast members love it and we have a lot of fun at rehearsals. There are a lot of interesting characters and situations and we hope the audience loves it,” said Edge.
To some, the play is not just the last play of the year but a final goodbye to fellow Jefferson Players.
“I am really excited. It’s my senior year so this is my last play. I want to go out with a bang,” said Rice.
For other students, the first performance is an experience to remember. “I am excited about the play,” said Starcher. “It is my first time and I am having a lot of fun with it.”
The talent shines in this group and there is a lot of talent among the Jefferson Players, said Mrs. Behr-Jerome.

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