Two Chester High School students advanced to the second round of the Poetry Out Loud competition after taking top honors at the Chester event on Jan. 13.

Nico DeGuzman won first and Ary Shipley placed second. Both advanced to the second round in Carbondale.
The Poetry Out Loud competition helps students learn about poetry and develop public speaking skills. The competition can progress onto regionals, state, and nationals after Friday’s judging. State winners will receive a $200 cash prize, a $500 cash stipend for Chester High School’s poetry department, and an opportunity to compete for the title of national champion in Washington D.C.