Eight local students competed in the Optimist Club’s Optimist Oratorical Contest in March, and two advanced to a higher level.
The students first competed March 16 at the Plant City Recreation & Parks Department administrative office. Each student presented a five-minute speech in front of an audience of more than 50 people, including friends, family and club members. The theme was “How My Optimism Will Help Me Press On To ‘Greater Achievements of the Future.’”
Members of Plant City Toastmasters Club judged the speeches in poise, content, delivery and effectiveness.
The students were:
Girls
Emma Poole (first), Tomlin
Astrid Manzano (second), PCHS
Kynewyn Saunders (third), DHS
Esmeralda Barrera Nandi (honorable mention), SCHS
Katherine Ruppert (honorable mention), Tomlin
Avery Surrency (honorable mention), Tomlin
Boys
Gresham Stephens (first), PCHS
Arie Fry (second), PCHS
Poole and Stephens advanced to the zone level of competition March 31 in Mulberry. They competed against top finishers from Lakeland and Winter Haven. Both won their categories.
They will now advance to the Southwest Regional Contest at the John Germain Tampa Public Library Auditorium at 2 p.m. May 2 where they will compete against the winners from other Tampa Bay area Zone competitions. As part of the North Florida District 3rd Quarter Conference, Regional Contest winners advance to the North Florida District Finals May 16 in Cape Canaveral where a $2,500 college scholarship will be awarded to both the top male and the top female participant