Another successful year in the books for the annual 4H Speech Contest. For years, 4-H has been involved to bring public speaking opportunities to fourth, fifth, and sixth-grade students across the state of Florida.
All fourth, fifth, and sixth grade students in Citrus County Schools researched, organized and delivered speeches in classroom and school contests. This week, families, friends, teachers, and school district administrators filled the Central Ridge Community Center in Beverly Hills to hear from the top winners around Citrus County.
The objective of the 4-H Speech Contest is for student participants to increase their public speaking and communication skills. Participants must obtain as much information as possible on a topic of their choosing and carefully organize the material to be presented in a timely and orderly speech. In addition, participants can develop a pleasing personal style before an audience, acquire the ability to speak convincingly in public and express ideas effectively, and develop confidence and poise.
Two students from each public school, and private schools, came together to shine as they wowed the judges while presenting their speeches. To advance to the county competition, each student earned a top spot in the classroom, grade, and school divisions before advancing to this final round.
Congratulations to all the students that took part in the 4-H Public Speaking contests this year. Below is a list of our winners:
4th and 5th grade:
First Place- Nikhil Pasupuleti- Forest Ridge Elementary- “Medical Advancements”
Second Place- Grant Naruta- Inverness Primary School- “Scammers of Fun-Why We Can’t Resist”
Third Place- Jessica Neveau- Forest Ridge Elementary- “Electronics Then and Now”
Honorable Mention- Audriena Sapp- Seven Rivers Christian School- “Under the Sea”
6th grade:
First Place- Emma Storey- Inverness Middle- “Hang Up Your Phone”
Second Place- Lecanto Middle- Jenna Hollard- “Sasquatch”
Third Place- Deborah Brunk- Inverness Middle- “Should You Bulletproof Your Back-to-School Shopping”
Honorable Mention- Lecanto Middle- Iszabella Vogel- “The Horror of Animal Testing”