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Teen Poetry Slam

On April 30, 2008, as the concluding event of Pittsfield's Poetry Week, the Athenaeum co-sponsored with the Pittsfield Youth Commission a Teen Poetry Slam. The open slam drew area students who performed their work before an audience of family and friends.. Emcee and local poet Carol Stroll requested scores from judges, who ranked each poem on a scale of 1 - 10 for content, style and how well the poet engaged the audience. According to Pittsfield Youth Commisioner Cassandra Ynocencio, in remarks to the Berkshire Eagle, "This is not poetry from your English class. It doesn't matter how it reads on the page. It's about how it's presented... A slam is a competitive salon where poets and an audience interact." Event rules required all poems be original and timed at no longer than three minutes.

 

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poetry slampoetry slam

 

Teen Trivia Night

Eight high school teams competed for honor and prizes on Wednesday, May 9, 2007. After teams endured three competitive rounds, Lenox took the win, with a final score of 37 against the second place finisher, Taconic, with a score of 19. Members of the winning team each took home a $20 Barnes & Noble gift certificate. Members of the defeated teams were consoled with Twinkies, Twizzlers, and String Cheese. All participants left with coupons for Pizza Hut mini-pizzas.

Thanks to our generous sponsors: The Friends of the Berkshire Athenaeum and Pizza Hut.
Lenox Memorial H S team
The winning team from Lenox Memorial High School: Brendan Flanagan, Drew Brnoski, Wilson Baer and Allison Collins. Coached by Brenda Durrin-Maloney and Dr Charles Mattina.
Taconic H S team
Second place finishing team, Taconic High School.
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Final Round
The final round
Student answers
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"I've got it!"
Student team
Teamwork! Student
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"Sweet!"