A Celebration of Words at the 2025 Paul K. Bergan Poetry Festival

Set inside the cozy and welcoming coffeehouse atmosphere of FoxHound Auditorium, the Poetry Festival launched Thursday evening with a lively and entertaining Open Mic event emceed by juniors Ariana A. and Maddie K. Performances included several student groups sharing their vocal and instrumental talents with songs ranging from contemporary to 90s classics. 

The English Department — Steve McCarty, Emma Cesar, Becca Paulish, and Patti Mora ’95, accompanied by Patrick O’Rouke on the drums — performed several rocking numbers throughout the night, and STEM teacher Dr. James Sweeney even joined in for Weezer’s “Island in the Sun.” The much-anticipated Poetry Slam followed, where ten brave students — Lauren G. ’26, Raven L. ’26, Ava D. ’26, J.J. T. ’28, Katarina S. ’26, Youki T. ’27, Riley G. ’27, Eugenia G. ’27, and, performing together, Sam S. ’27 and Olivia M. ’27 — took the stage to share their original works. One student illustrated the difficulty in casting final votes after all participants had demonstrated such talent and passion for the spoken word: “Their poems were all so lovingly made!”

At the end of two rounds of audience voting, junior Ava D. was declared the winner after moving the crowd with her vulnerable and eloquent poems. Juniors Raven L. and Lauren G. were named second and third, respectively. Well done to all our Slammers! 

Friday began with a morning of readings by Visiting Poet Sarah Kay, founder and co-director of Project VOICE, who explored the concepts of identity, love, loss, and even puns, including a sweet and “punny” love poem from a toothbrush to a bicycle wheel that was perfect for Valentine’s Day. Following her reading, Kay worked with students in morning and afternoon sessions of her spoken word workshop, using various exercises to coax poems from the girls. Read more about her visit to campus here.

Students spent the remainder of Friday exploring and creating poetry as each attended two of the 11 workshops held in both morning and afternoon sessions. The topics ranged from Book Spine poetry (stacking books so that their spines read as a poem) and Innovative Haikus (based on refrigerator poems only larger) to limericks and healing through color. 

Many thanks to all who made the Poetry Festival a success: to the entire English Department for organizing this event; to the faculty and staff who led engaging workshops — Regan Antila, Alex Barrett, Megan Barrett, Ranata Davis, Julie Fisher, Sofia Griswold, Rhea Hyatt, Alex Northrup, Laura Ogelman, Erika Page, Vilma Riestra, James Sweeney, Nance Sweet, Heather Whisenant, Michelle Woodruff, Stephanie Young ’00, Mr. McCarty, Ms. Cesar, Ms. Mora, and Ms. Paulisch; to our guest poet Sarah Kay; and most especially to each individual who performed, recited, and stepped up to share their voice with the community.