Peyton recognized for Poetry Out Loud
Willow Peyton, second from the right, was recognized and celebrated at St Marys High School on Monday for her work in the arts at the school and for finishing in ninth place at the National Poetry Out Loud held in Washington, D.C., from April 30 to May 2. Also pictured are: SMHS Principal Lori Barnhart, English teacher Paige Crawford-Cook, Joseph Peyton and Wendy Smith. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)
Willow Peyton, center, poses for a picture with her parents, Joseph Peyton and Wendy Smith, at St Marys High School on Monday where she was celebrated for her work in the arts at the school and for finishing in ninth place at the National Poetry Out Loud held in Washington, D.C., from April 30 to May 2. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)
Willow Peyton performs at the 2024 Poetry Out Loud competition held in Washington, D.C., from April 30 to May 2. Peyton finished in ninth place and received a $1,000 scholarship she will use this fall as she heads off to West Liberty University. (Photo provided)
Willow Peyton, second from the right, was recognized and celebrated at St Marys High School on Monday for her work in the arts at the school and for finishing in ninth place at the National Poetry Out Loud held in Washington, D.C., from April 30 to May 2. Also pictured are: SMHS Principal Lori Barnhart, English teacher Paige Crawford-Cook, Joseph Peyton and Wendy Smith. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)
Willow Peyton, center, poses for a picture with her parents, Joseph Peyton and Wendy Smith, at St Marys High School on Monday where she was celebrated for her work in the arts at the school and for finishing in ninth place at the National Poetry Out Loud held in Washington, D.C., from April 30 to May 2. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)
Willow Peyton performs at the 2024 Poetry Out Loud competition held in Washington, D.C., from April 30 to May 2. Peyton finished in ninth place and received a $1,000 scholarship she will use this fall as she heads off to West Liberty University. (Photo provided)
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ST MARYS – "I think everyone needs to do some kind of art," St Marys High School senior Willow Peyton said. "Whether it's music, whether it's dance, whether it's painting, poetry. Do something, try it out. Whatever it is, I think art benefits everyone."
A surprise recognition was held for Peyton Monday at the school where teachers, students, family and representatives from the State Arts Office of the West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History (WVDACH), including Director of Arts Jenna Long, Program Coordinator Jim Wolfe and Secretary Randall Reid-Smith, got together to commend and celebrate Peyton for making a positive impact on the arts at her school, in her county and in her state.
"She's been a participant in the Poetry Out Loud program for three years," Wolfe said. "She was runner-up two years in a row, and finally this year, she broke through, won the state championship and then went on to the national finals, where she went through to the final round (and finished) in the top nine in the nation."
Peyton competed in the national event held in Washington, D.C., from April 30 to May 2.
"It was crazy," Peyton said.
"Everyone was so kind, so nice. It's supposed to be competitive, but everyone was very kind, but also like minded individuals who are super talented. I was intimidated. This is the best from every single state. It was fun."
Peyton is no stranger to the stage as she's been a member of the Actors Guild of Parkersburg since she was in sixth grade, a member of the Smoot Theatre Girl's Ensemble since seventh grade, she does dinner theater for the Valley Gem in Marietta and has been in multiple productions that include "Our Town," "The Wizard of Oz," "Aladdin", and most recently "The SpongeBob Musical Youth Edition."
"I've always been a good public speaker," Peyton said. "I'm comfortable talking in front of people, I'm confident being in front of people, being interviewed, it's something that just kind of comes naturally to me."
That comfortability helped her to get into the top nine of the Poetry Out Loud competition, and while she says she would've liked to have won, she was happy with her finish.
"I feel like I did very well," Peyton said.
"I was really happy to get the place I got. But it was nice to be a national finalist. West Virginia typically does very well at Poetry Out Loud, which is nice to hear. And It was nice to be able to represent my state. That's all I could've asked for from the competition."
Peyton received a $1,000 scholarship for her finish and plans to use those winnings towards college as she heads off to West Liberty University in the fall.
She said she will be majoring in public relations with a minor in theater.
"I wanted to major in public relations because I find it goes really well into acting," Peyton said.
"It's a good fallback if needed."
She won't need that fallback anytime soon as she has signed a two-film contract and will be headed to Atlanta in June to shoot the first of those films with Dean Cain and Eddie McClintock entitled "I Have A Name."
"It's about foster care, and the foster care system," Peyton said.
"I'm building up my resume, my reels, so I can send it to bigger agencies."
She credits her teachers and theater family with all of her success.
"It's kind of what I owe it all to. The support I've had from my teachers throughout my entire academic career. It's been amazing," Peyton said.
"I really can't thank them enough, or the education system. St Marys, and West Virginia, have amazing support for the arts. Some people think it goes unnoticed, but I see it every single day. I see the love the state has for the arts."
She said she encourages everyone to try an art program of some kind.
"Especially if you're in West Virginia," Peyton said.
"Try it out, it is here, there are arts here, do them. They're amazing."