Righetti High School’s Alicia Blanco has won the Regional Poetry Out Loud Competition for Santa Barbara County and received an all-expense paid trip to Sacramento to compete in the State Finals in the spring.

Kohen Ross, a Righetti junior, was the runner-up.

Blanco, a freshman, was one of nine Righetti High students who memorized Poetry Out Loud poems, and recited them in front of a panel of judges from the Santa Barbara County Office of Education.

Blanco read “From the Sky” by Sara Abou Rashed, a poignant poem that reflects on the experience of displacement, immigration and identity.

“Righetti is proud of all nine students who competed, and we are delighted to have another Poetry Out Loud winner from our school this year,” said English teacher Kristen Kurth. “Congratulations to Alicia, the Poetry Out Loud Regional Champion for 2024!’’

The event was held at the Betteravia Government Administration Building.