Poetry contest raises funds for student’s surgeries
Edward P. Yorke High School is soliciting assistance through a poetry competition for a student who racked up thousands of dollars in medical expenses for injuries he sustained during a traffic accident in February of this year. The student, thirteen year old Jihad Ahmad, is currently recuperating from surgeries he underwent. On Friday night at the Bliss Center for the Performing Arts, six youngsters will rap their lyrical talent to win the competition, entitled Lyrical Combat. Teacher and Organizer, Ivory Kelly says that the event will not only assist Ahmad’s financial needs, but is improving the writing skills of the participants.
Ivory Kelly, Organizer, Lyrical Combat
“They are definitely enthusiastic. I myself was very pleased with the response. Initially we had more than twenty student who submitted their written poems. Out of those twenty, fifteen were selected to perform in the first performance round and I was very pleased and I remain pleased that our students take an interest in writing and showcasing their writing talents. Most of the poems are freestyle and they address a range of subject matters; love, feelings of imprisonment, self-expression of various sorts.”
Duane Moody
“The final six, there’s going to be a competition at the Bliss like you said. What is that competition going to be? Is it going to focus on them on a written piece by them or are they going to just be there expressing themselves?”
Ivory Kelly
“The judges will be judging the written content, the literal merit of the poems as well as their ability to communicate effectively.”
Raheem Phillips, 2nd Form Student, E. P. Yorke High School
“I just wanted to help my fellow schoolmate in his recovery from the accident and also to open the eyes of the community to all the wrong things going on in the country.”
Jonas Sanchez, 2nd Form Student, E. P. Yorke High School
“Freely express myself and in doing so, I’m actually helping a student of Edward P York; a first former. So it’s actually a win-win situation.”
Brittaney Bowden, 1st Form Student, E. P. Yorke High School
“I wanted to express my feelings and show everybody that it’s okay to write and it’s something good to do.”
Isabel Reyes, 1st Form Student, E. P. Yorke High School
“I wanted to inspire students including Jihad to never give up, especially in the state he is in.”
Lyrical Combat starts at seven p.m. and admission is ten dollars. Students with I.D. will pay five. This is the second fund-raising activity that the school has organised to generate funds for Ahmad. In the traffic accident mother and daughter, Carolyn Rowland and Twyler Jones perished and three others, including Ahmad sustained serious injuries when a dodge ram pickup truck and a ford explorer collided between miles eight and nine of the Western Highway.
