(Pictured are 4th & 5th grade Speech Contest Finalists: (bottom) Davis Peck, Cade Futch, Tayler Bennett (2nd Place), Matteson DeBaise, Parker Layfield; (Top): Daniel Madden, Shaw Pinnell (3rd Place), Charlie Crisp (1st Place), Laura Cate Harris, Brianna Brown.)

Southland Academy hosted its Lower School Speech Contest for fourth and fifth grades on Friday, February 23, 2018, in the Academic Center of the Deriso Building. Ten very talented finalists were in the competition. Already meeting the length and content requirements, each student presented a speech to family, friends, and three guest judges. They were scored on presentation, clarity, expression, projection, poise and posture, and interpretation. Following the contest, the finalists and their families were honored at a reception.

The speech contest is just one of the avenues that allow Southland Academy to strive to challenge the best in its students to showcase their talents. Adolescent learning needs encouragement and support from parents and teachers, and Southland desires to help its students achieve their potential and help them expand their horizons. Likewise, beginning this type of academic endeavor as lower school students will help Southland’s young students evolve into integral participants in our upper school literary teams as well as help them develop a life-long skill.

The winner of the 2018 Southland Academy Speech Contest with “It’s a God Thing” is fifth grader Charlie Crisp. He is the son of John and Whitney Crisp. The second place winner is fifth grader Tayler Bennett. She presented “My Lucky Day,” and she is the daughter of Michael and Lana Bennett. The third place winner is fifth grader Shaw Pinnell with his speech, “Where’s Shaw?” He is the son of Lee and Faith Pinnell.

Receiving Honorable Mention Awards were: Laura Cate Harris, Davis Peck, Matteson DeBaise, Cade Futch, Brianna Brown, Parker Layfield, and Daniel Madden.