The Final Slam consisted of 15 student poets that competed against each other in three rounds of poetry. The student’s poems were based on events that they had experienced throughout their lives. Following the first round, 10 students advanced to the second round, and then five progressed on to final round.

This year’s winners were all from Tunkhannock Area High School Senior, Olivia Romano, placed first, Junior Sarah Schork placed second, and Senior Aidan Cronin placed third. These students will go on to compete in the Breaking Voices Youth festival this summer.

Mitchell Winters, senior at Tunkhannock Area High School, was one of the students poets that performed. His favorite thing about the program is that he can say what he really feels.

“I just want to make sure that my voice is heard, and make some people laugh and make people happy, […] that’ll make me happy,” said Winters.

Winters was introduced to the program through his teacher Katie Wisnosky. Wisnosky founded the program in 201.

“I like hearing the variety of voices that the kids talk about. I like their passion and the intensity that’s what makes this program grow,” said Katie Wisnosky, director of Breaking Ground Poetry.

For more information about the Breaking Ground Poetry program,visit their Facebook page.

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