Eleven students from Haywood County high schools competed in the second Poetry Out Loud district competition at Tuscola High School Dec. 1.

Brooke Palay from Tuscola High School won the district championship. Ali O’Kelly from Tuscola High School was first runner up and Ananda Shuckstes from the Haywood Early College program was second runner up.

Palay, who performed “Broken Promises” by David Kirby and “The Coming of the Plague” by Weldon Kees, advances to the state competition in Greensboro in March. The North Carolina Poetry Out Loud champion then goes on to Washington, D.C., in May to compete for a $20,000 college scholarship.

Poetry Out Loud is a national recitation contest that “invites the dynamic aspects of slam poetry, spoken word and theater into the high school English class. Poetry Out Loud helps students master public speaking skills, build self-confidence and learn about their literary heritage,” according to PoetryOutLoud.org.