By DIANE GASPER-O'BRIEN

dobrien@daiynews.net

Hays High School's Megan Adams advanced to the regional competition of the Poetry Out Loud National Recitation Contest by winning her school's local contest earlier this month.

Adams, a junior, beat our her fellow HHS competitors with her recitation of "Father's Old Blue Cardigan" and "Boy and Egg."

For the regional, state and national contests, students must memorize three poems, with one meeting the criteria of a pre-20th century poet and being less than 25 lines.

Adams, in her first year in forensics at Hays High, said she is looking forward to being the first student to represent Hays High at regionals.

The local contest was started at HHS this year by Kathy Wagoner, long-time English teacher at the school.

Wagoner said she got interested in the concept of memorizing poetry after attending a session on it at the Kansas Association for Teachers of English conference last fall in Wichita.

"I was excited about it after I saw what it could do for the kids," she said of the recitation contest, in its third year nationally. "And it's a way to get them excited about poetry."

The winner of the regional competition, which will include students from Colby, Oakley and Quinter, will advance to state March 13 in Topeka.

The state winner will receive $200 and an all-expense paid trip to Washington to compete in the national finals. In addition, the state champion's school will receive $500 to spend toward the purchase of poetry books.

At the national level, a total of $50,000 in scholarship awards and school stipends will be awarded, with $20,000 of that going to the national champion in the form of a college scholarship.

Several school soup suppers on tap this weekend

Want a break from cooking dinner this weekend?

There's three different chances to enjoy soup or picnic food and get in on a little entertainment as well.

The home and school associations and parent teacher associations at three elementary schools in Hays will be hosting their soup supper/fun nights, and all happen to be on different nights.

* On Friday, O'Loughlin Elementary, 1401 Hall, will have a soup supper/fun night featuring chili and chicken noodle soup, as well as cinnamon rolls. There also will be games and raffles at the event, which will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Meal tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for children ages 4 to 11.

* On Saturday, Wilson Elementary, 101 E. 28th, will host its annual family fun night. It will feature a picnic meal of hot dogs, nachos, popcorn, cotton candy and other carnival-type food. Tickets can be purchased individually for those items, as well as for games and raffles. The fun night will run from 4 to 8 p.m.

* On Sunday, chili and turkey sandwiches will be the items of choice at the chili supper/bazaar at Holy Family Elementary, 18th and Vine, from 4 to 7 p.m. Meal tickets, which cost $5.50 for adults and $3 for children ages 4 to 12, are available in advance at the school office or at the door. In addition to the soup supper, there will be kids' games, bingo with prizes, a silent auction and a raffle.

* Then a week later, Roosevelt Elementary, 2000 MacArthur, will host its soup supper and carnival Jan. 31. In addition to chili and chicken noodle soup, there will be hotdogs and cinnamon rolls. The carnival will feature games, a cake walk and raffle. Meal tickets are $4 for adults and $2.50 for children 12 and under.