Before school ended for the year, eight students from the West Point Middle School competed in the school’s fourth annual speech contest. This year’s topic asked students in grades 5-8, “How can our words change the world?”
Two finalists were selected at each grade level who then competed in the school-wide competition. Speeches addressed the importance of our words, the influence of books and the media, and how words have changed the world and continue to do so.
Eighth grader, Patricia Gibby was awarded first place for her powerful speech on how books and the media have changed her world and in turn, everyone else’s.
Wren Whipple was awarded second place and Isabella Alberici came in third. Other finalists included: Grade 5 – Lydia Bubalo and Olivia Sorenson; Grade 6 – Wren Whipple and Isabella Alberici; Grade 7 – Nicholas Bull and Gabriel Bubalo; and Grade 8 – Patricia Gibby and Alijah Rubang.
Judges represented USMA, the West Point community, and the neighboring Highland Falls-Fort Montgomery Central School Disrict, and included Garrison Commander Col. Cecil Marson, DUSA President Elizabeth Woodruff, and O’Neill High School Principal Debbie Brand.
The contest was founded four years ago by O’Neill High School graduate Maggie Haley, who is now attending East Carolina University. This year’s contest was organized by O’Neill freshman Emme Richards, a two-time contest finalist who said she wanted to continue the program because it significantly impacted her self confidence and public speaking skills, and she wanted to ensure that opportunity was afforded to current WPMS students. Richards applied for and received a grant from the West Point Spouse’s Club to fund awards and supplies for the next three years of speech contests.
“The contest helps students who might not otherwise have a voice truly express themselves and feel important and confident,” Richards said. “I believe that the competition makes such a difference in those who participate in it, and it shows in the way they carry themselves and act more confidently during the course of the event. Speech writing and public speaking skills strengthen communication and critical thinking which are quite essential to one’s development and success in future years. Most importantly, students can discover their talents and confidence which can impact the way they see themselves for the rest of their lives.”
Richards said she hopes “students will find their voice, confidence and love of public speaking through the WPMS Speech Contest”.
She thanked all of those involved and the larger community for their support of this event, and said she “would like to express how proud I am of the participants; they did an amazing job at writing and giving their speeches!’.
