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Stark Reading Contest

About the Contest

The Stark Reading Contest (SRC) has been held every year since 1904. It began with Miriam Stark’s idea of promoting literary skills in reading and oral interpretation for area students. Over the years, the contest grew and evolved. The contests are now held at local schools providing students from Orangefield, West Orange Stark, Vidor, Little Cypress-Mauriceville and Bridge City an opportunity to compete at school contests for scholarship funds for college.

First Place winners of declamation and first place winners in interpretive reading from each school compete in a countywide final with first and second place receiving additional scholarship awards.

Contest winners receive scholarships, and all 10 finalists receive watches, a long held tradition of the contest.

Students must maintain a passing grade of 70 or above in all classes to be eligible. *

The contest involves interpretive reading and declamation. This means that students will present/read selections for speeches, poetry or other literary works before an audience.

  • Declamation is a presentation of another author’s material such as a speech, address or other oratorical platform. Declamation encourages effective public speaking techniques. Example of declamation selection – A speech by Susan B. Anthony or Elie Wiesel.
  • Interpretive Reading or Poetry/Prose is the oral interpretation of a selection. It encourages comprehension, appreciation, and analysis of poetry/prose, demonstrating the ability to evoke an audience’s reaction through interpretation. Example of interpretive reading selection – A Poem by Pablo Neruda or a section of a short story by Kate Chopin.

The Director from your school is expected to offer students guidance about each of these categories and selection options and be the main resource for the student.

Reading Selection:​

  • Selections are to be 5-8 minutes in length​
  • May choose from selection lists​
  • May request an alternative selection but must be approved by Mrs. Claybar and the Stark Foundation representative.​
  • Cannot have been a winning selection in the county contest in the previous two years.​
  • Any student who has previously participated in SRC may NOT repeat or re-use a previous selection​

Student Eligibility

  • Maintain a 70 or above average in all classes​
  • May not have previously received either one first place award or two second place awards in the same category of the Contest in which he or she seeks current participation​
  • May not have had significant disciplinary action taken against the student​
  • Never have been charged with or convicted of criminal activity​

Applications

  • Pick up an application from Mrs. Claybar in the library.
  • All applications must be turned in to Mrs. Claybar by Tuesday, November 28, 2023.

You must provide a copy of your selection with your application. (This is required by the Stark Foundation.)​

Website

On the Stark Foundation website (http://www.starkfoundation.org), the reading contest tab contains resources for students interested in participating in the contest. Calendar dates, rules, forms, reading selections list, history and more are provided. The website is your source for up-to-date information about the contest. 

Facebook

Visit the Stark Reading Contest Facebook page for photos of recent contests, winners and more. Students are encouraged to post photos from contests and use this as a place to network with other contestants. 

Selections

  • You may submit an alternative selection (a selection that is not on the approved list. You must complete Part C of the application IF the selection is not on the approved list. The selection will be reviewed and possibly approved. ​
  • Do NOT fill out part C if your selections are on the approved lists.​
  • Alternative selections (those that are not on the approved list) must be a minimum Lexile measure of 855L or be at least 9th grade reading level. ​
  • You MUST have a SECOND CHOICE completed in part B of your application.
  • Applications without a second choice will not be accepted.
  • At least ONE of your choices MUST come from the approved list.

Scholarships

Local level​

  • Each first-place winner in a participating school’s local level final will earn a $2,000 scholarship​
  • Second-place winners in a local level final will each earn a $1,500 scholarship.​

​County level​

  • The first place winners in each category of the county level of the Contest will receive a $5,000 scholarship. ​
  • The second place winners in each category of the county level of the Contest will receive a $2,500 scholarship.​

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