2005 News

June 1, 2005
Commissioners Recognize High School Poet Laureate

The Bucks County Commissioners today honored Michael Deagler, of Pipersville, as the High School Poet of the Year. Deagler, 16, was presented with a proclamation during the commissioners' monthly meeting held in the Bucks County Courthouse in Doylestown.

Attending were his parents, Daniel and Carol Deagler, Allen Hoey, Bucks County Community College professor of language and literature, and J. Kevin Munnelly, principal of Central Bucks West High School.

A sophomore at Central Bucks West, Deagler was chosen from a group of 222 high school students who submitted entries to the contest jointly sponsored by the Bucks County Commissioners and Bucks County Community College. The contest was judged by two past winners of the countywide Bucks County Poet Laureate contest.

One of the judges observed the poet's work "moves through time, from the personal to the universal," and at its best, moves the reader. The poems he submitted are: Alekseev: Snowfall, New World Idyllic and Grass Catholic (candles I light for you).

Commissioner Chairman Charles H. Martin noted Deagler's poems represent Bucks County's best literary tradition. He encouraged Bucks Countians to look to the young poet's work for insight and inspiration.

While writing always has been a keen interest, Deagler said he began writing poetry in February as part of a poetry class assignment. In the past four months he has composed 14 poems. He has not decided where his educational path will lead, but writing will be in his future, Deagler said.