April 6, 2006
Speech winners move to state competition
WEST AKRON — Coming Together Akron, a community-based organization promoting racial harmony and cultural awareness, has announced the Northeast Ohio regional winners of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Oratorical contest.
This year’s theme was “A New Spirit Rising.”
More than 400 students submitted essays, and finalists presented their essays in oratorical form to a regional panel of judges March 16 at Firestone High School.
The winners in the West Side Leader coverage area were:
• Kindergarten: second place, Mecca Link, 5, Stewart Afrocentric Elementary, West Akron;
• Primary Division (grades 1-3): first place, Jasmine Moore, 7, second grade, Stewart;
• Intermediate Division (grades 4-5): first place, Benjamin Petit, 11, fifth grade, Essex Elementary School, West Akron; and third place, Brandy Watson, 11, fifth grade, Stewart; and
• High School (grades 9-12): first place, Daniel Borchik, 16, 10th grade, Copley High School; and second place, Siri Hiremath, 15, 10th grade, Copley.
Contestants were evaluated on aplomb, voice quality, physical dynamics, observance of time limit, originality, posture and composition.
Winning students will advance to the state competition in Columbus April 28.
