8th grader advances to Shakespeare finals

This marks the third time that Kaaveri has advanced to the finals. As a sixth grader, she was winner of the Lower Division Monologues for her portrayal of Helena from “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” Last year, Kaaveri and her brother Aarav were finalists for their portrayal of Hamlet and Polonius in a scene from “Hamlet.”

Kaaveri is one of only five Finalists in the Upper Monologues category.

“An incredible accomplishment, especially since she is in eighth grade and competing in the Upper Division, which comprises grades 8-12,” Thomas Yochum, Upper St. Clair gifted coordinator, said.

In addition to Kaaveri, three Fort Couch Middle School seventh graders earned Honorable Mention for their monologues in the Lower Division (grades 4-7):

• Kriti Kulkarni, A Midsummer Night's Dream
• Mateo Lin, Richard III
• Eleanor Wilkinson, The Tempest

In total, nearly 40 Upper St. Clair students from grades five through 12 participated in the annual Shakespeare Monologue & Scene Contest. Upper St. Clair’s middle and high school students worked with Mr. Yochum and Mrs. Sherri Garvey, gifted/enrichment teachers, to review, select and understand their scenes and monologues.

“I am extremely proud of all the hard work and dedication USC students brought to the Shakespeare Competition this year,” Mr. Yochum said. “Each student, whether performing a monologue or working together on a scene, delivered a professional and creative interpretation of the Bard's words on stage. The performances were tremendous across the board thanks to months of dedicated memorization, practice and workshopping.”