(Paramus, NJ—February 24, 2010) Soraya Hebron, a resident of Jersey City, attended the Region 3 competition of Poetry Out Loud, held at the Ciccone Theatre of Bergen Community College, announced Dr. Joseph Giammarella, Director of High Tech and Academy of Architectural & Contemporary Themes (AACT).

Hebron represented High Tech among those Region 3 high schools—in the counties of Bergen, Hudson, Essex, Morris, Passaic, Sussex, and Warren—slotted to participate and recited “Ice Child” by John Haines in the first round of the competition. Unfortunately, the judges of the Region 3 competition did not select Hebron for the third round.

“Nevertheless, we’re very proud of Soraya’s performance,” said Joan Marie Bellotti, moderator of the school-wide Poetry Out Loud competition. “I’m so glad she’s anxious to compete next year.”

In the school-wide competition at High Tech, Hebron and top performers Michael Haefner of Kearny, Bayonne resident Paul Marvucic, Tristen Mathis of Jersey City, and Hoboken residents Jake Ohring and Leora Rosenberg shared the stage with twenty-seven other High Tech students in the Jay Todd Black Box Theater.

Sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts, The Poetry Foundation and State Arts Agencies, Poetry Out Loud employs a pyramid structure, beginning at the classroom level, followed by the school-wide competition. As previously mentioned Regional, State and National Contests round out the remainder of Poetry Out Loud.

Winners at the state level receive $200 and an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington to compete for the national championship. The state winners’ schools also receive a $500 stipend for the purchases of poetry books. State runner-ups earn $100, with $200 for their school libraries. A total of $50,000 in scholarships and school stipends will be awarded to winners at the National Finals.