Middle School Poetry SLAM 2019
There was only way to close out our busiest year yet and that's with one of ASNY's favorite events -- Poetry SLAM!
With two new venues and 600 poet-athletes, this was our largest SLAM yet!
Over 200 of our middle school poet-athletes took to the stage at New Design Middle School on Thursday, December 5th to kick off our end-of-season celebration.
Host and America SCORES NY Poetry Specialist Shanell Sharpe kicked off the show with her incredible poem and hyped up all of our poet-athletes for their upcoming performances. After a few words from Executive Director Shannon Schneeman, Program Director Zachary Gomes, and NDMS Principal Mr. Stovall, Shanell and Program Coordinator Delmy Del Cid ran through the rules of the SLAM and, of course, the importance of fair play.
With five middle schools in attendance -- PSMS 161, Hamilton Grange Middle School, New Design Middle School, Mott Hall Middle School, and PS 322 -- the night was ready to begin!
Thank you to Luis Fonseca for being such a wonderful photographer!
PSMS 161 kicked off the night with poems focused on society, sleep, and of course, soccer!
PSMS 161 GIRLS
"Soccer Warrior" by Keitlyn D
"Personal Nightmare" by Iris B
"Day Dreams" by Kyra P
"Read All About It" by PSMS 161 Girls
PSMS 161 BOYS
"Bullying" by Bradley C
"When They See Us" by Kevin W
"Fun of How They Look" by Dharvin V
"Racism" by Anthony B
"Racism" by PSMS 161 Boys
Mott Hall Middle School was next, prepared to impress the judges with their poems!
Mott Hall Middle School CO-ED
"I Think" by Mia B
"This is Racism" by Leomar O
"And I am from" by Christel E
"School Violence" by Mott Hall Co-ed
At their first Poetry SLAM, MS 322's Co-ed team came out on stage ready to perform!
MS 322 CO-ED
"Ransom Parody" by Maximo M
"I Am Me" by Jonansel H
"Poetry after Soccer" by Nicholas R
"Community/Comunidad" by MS 322 Co-ed
Hamilton Grange Middle School's three teams covered a variety of themes in their poems!
Hamilton Grange Middle School 6th GR BOYS
"Watch your Ankles" by Miguel A
"The Dominican Republic" by Jorge C
"Soccer and My Life" by Angel F
"Becoming a Doctor" by Jhostin M
"Our Team" by Xavier C
"What Makes a Team" by HGMS 6th Gr Boys
Hamilton Grange Middle School 7th/8th GR BOYS
"Losing is Winning" by Abdoul K
"Soccer and Me" by Jayden L
"Diamonds on the Grass" by Charlie C
"Teamwork" by HGMS 6th/7th Gr Boys
Hamilton Grange Middle School GIRLS
"Police Brutality" by Chloe A
"Why" by Emily C
"Police Brutality" by HGMS Girls
Last but not least, host school New Design Middle School closed out the show!
New Design Middle School CO-ED
"Ode to Drag Race" by Aniya W
"I Pray" by Alex S
After an enthusiastic dance party, the winners were announced!
OUR INDIVIDUAL SHINE AWARD WINNERS
FAIR PLAY WINNERS
TIE: MS 322 Co-ed, Hamilton Grange Middle School Girls, and PSMS 161 Boys
SCHOOL SPIRIT
New Design Middle School Co-ed
2ND PLACE
Hamilton Grange Middle School Girls
1ST PLACE
Mott Hall Middle School Co-ed
Thank you to our dedicated panel of judges of that were excited to hear all of our poet-athletes! Thursday night's panel was made up of David Kilpatrick (Professor of English Literature and Sport Management at Mercy College), Phil Kehoe (Former AmeriCorps VISTA and dedicated volunteer), and Njambi Morgan (New ASNY Poetry Specialist) with Eve Pennington, a dedicated SCORES volunteer, tallying the scores!
Thank you to our special guest performers Njambi Morgan and Mal Mero for inspiring our poet-athletes and DJ Execqtive and DJ Addi for setting the tone of the evening!
Finally, a huge thank you to all of our coaches, staff, and of course our poet-athletes for an amazing SLAM and an equally incredible season! See you next year!
