RC Pikeville hosts Speech Contest

The Pikeville Rotary Club is pleased to announce that it has, once again, sponsored a speech contest for area students.  The contest offers high school students an opportunity to speak on a meaningful topic, to sharpen their speaking skills, and to gain recognition in addition to monetary rewards.  The Pikeville Rotary Club hopes that students who participate will learn about the mission of Rotary International as well as the humanitarian service and other projects of the local club.  Students, through their research,  are also exposed to a potential future relationship with Rotary through Interact, Rotaract or one of the youth-oriented programs like Youth Exchange.

This year’s winners proved to be very talented public speakers.  First place honors went to Eashwar Soma from Belfry High School, second place to Patrick Cordero from Pikeville High School, and third place to Haley Taylor from East Ridge High School.  These students were presented trophies by Pikeville Rotary Club President Howard Roberts,  as well as cash prizes of$200, $100 and $50 respectively.

All area high school students (freshman through senior) from both private and public high schools as well as home-schooled students were eligible.   High school guidance counselors distributed information and applications about the speech contest about two months before the contest.

Students were expected to do research on the topic “Peace Through Service”, this year’s Rotary International motto.  Participants were allowed to consult teachers, parents, or others about the content of their speeches.  Following the rules set forth by the Rotary Club, students had to deliver a 5 – 8 minute speech without notes.  They were judged on the basis of delivery, originality and content.

This year’s esteemed judges were Dr. David Smith (UPike professor), Brandon Roberts (Pike Co. Media Specialist), Christie Billiter Spears (Pikeville City Clerk), Dr. Brigitte LaPresto (UPike professor) and Rosalind Stanley   (Public Information Officer with the Pike County School System).  The speech contest was organized by Rotarians Al Greenfield and Jeanne Clark.

The three winning speeches will be delivered by the students at the May 1 regularly scheduled meeting of the Pikeville Rotary Club, which will be held at the EXPO Center in Pikeville.

Pikeville Rotary Club Speech Contest winners Patrick Cordero, Eashwar Soma, Haley Taylor
are presented trophies by club president Howard Roberts.