Baldwin High School Senior Sammie Weiss won the Regional Poetry Out contest on Saturday, Jan. 19 at Lawrence High School. It was her first time competing.

“I was excited to win the Regional Competition,” Weiss said. “This is my first year competing, so to win was a great surprise.”

The State competition is scheduled to be in Washington D.C., but Weiss will not be attending due to a school French Trip.

“It’s definitely disappointing that the State competition is a date that I will be gone on the school French trip,” Weiss said. “I wish I could have competed again at State. However, I’m happy to have been able to compete at Regionals, and competing at (state) will be a great opportunity for the runner-up.”

The Poetry Out Loud competition is for students enrolled in the grades ninth through tenth with the exceptions of eighth grade students who are participating in a higher grade class. Also, all competitors must be U.S. citizens.