Thirteen Middle and Upper School students earned medals for reciting poetry in Latin, Spanish or French at the annual Poetry Recitation Contest sponsored by the Connecticut Council of Language Teachers.

According to Yasmin Haque, Head of Hamden Hall’s World Language Department, about 600 students from 59 schools competed in the event, which was held at Choate Rosemary Hall on April 26.   Hamden Hall sent 19 students to compete.

"This may be our best showing ever," said Ms. Haque. "I don't remember us having a year with so many medalists.  Over the last two years, we had four to five winners total."

Senior Klemens Gowin, who was announced Valedictorian of the Class of 2013 earlier in the day, was one of the three first-place medalists along with eighth-grader Alyssa Blaise and junior Nicholas Strada. All three recited their poems in Latin.

Eighth-grader Anthony Maisano, who earned a second-place finish, recited “El Primer Resfriado” in Spanish. He explained that just about every stanza begins with the words, “Me Duele,” meaning to hurt.

Students were not able to select their own poems. Instead, there were approved slates of poems from which teachers had to select.

Nohar Segal, an eighth-grader, said she was selected to participate in the contest last year as well, but was unable to attend. Nohar has been mastering the French language for two years at Hamden Hall.

“My poem this year is about four different cats and I’m excited to go to the contest and recite it,” she said.

Second-place medalists included ninth-grader Tyler Bunton, sophomore Cameron DeSanti, junior Luis Nario-Malberg, and junior Robert Williamson. Third-place medalists were freshmen Elie Azoff-Slifstein and Matthew Peel, sophomores James Manoyan and John Marando; and seventh-grader Maxwell Sinoway.

"We are proud of all the students who put so much heart into their recitations. All the participants were chosen through an in-school competition in order to attend the contest, so they are all winners.  It is wonderful that so many were recognized by the COLT judges," said Ms. Haque.