Mark Keppel Poets Lift their Voices and a First Place Trophy

The group of young Mark Keppel High School poets had a lot to say after two years of distance learning. They channeled those emotions and energy when they returned to Get Lit’s 11th annual Classic Slam last month — and won the three-day festival of classic poems and original spoken word responses. The MKHS poets interpreted poems in front of a panel of judges that included world-renowned authors, poets, artists, and cultural luminaries. Get Lit strives for youth to absorb and interact with great works of literature as a way to unearth their potential and invent their futures.

The MKHS poets’ creativity, passion, and oratory skills propelled the team to first place in the 2022 Classic Slam event. After they were declared the champions, no one was more emotional than their teacher/advisor Dottie Burkhart who said, “I’ve coached 11 slam teams and each one, win or lose, made me a better human and a better teacher. This one turned the hardest year of my career into magic.”