Ana Glanden ’26 Wins Poetry Out Loud, Heads to State Finals

A seasoned performer and previous Sanford finalist in both 2022 and 2024, Ana captured the top title this year and will represent the Sanford community at the Delaware State Finals on February 19, 2026, at the Smyrna Opera House.

Ana secured the championship with her compelling recitations of The World is About to End and My Grandparents Are in Love by Cara Jackson and The Widow's Lament in Springtime by William Carlos Williams. Her performance was evaluated on criteria including accuracy, physical presence, voice and articulation, dramatic appropriateness, and evidence of understanding.

The schoolwide competition featured ten outstanding finalists representing all four Upper School grade levels. Following Ana in the rankings were Runner-Up Charli Harris ’26 and Second Runner-Up Abby Krape ’26. The impressive roster of finalists also included Rowan Doyle ’26, Kate McCrea ’27, Charlotte McLeod ’27, Andi Ayres ’28, Nico Mucchetti ’28, Yasmeen Saiyad ’29, and Nora Xu ’29.

At Sanford, the Poetry Out Loud program serves as more than a performance showcase; it is a vital component of the academic and leadership curriculum. Every student in the Upper School participates in poetry recitation, starting within their English classes before advancing to grade-level selections and the final schoolwide event. This comprehensive process allows students to build confidence, deepen their literary understanding, and strengthen critical public-speaking skills that serve them well beyond the classroom.

Watch the performances on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/x_EV_jO0AVA?si=7D43i7JW0AGieyZj