Despite the pandemic forcing the event to go virtual, students were excited again this year to participate in the annual Tropicana Speech Contest. For more than 50 years, 4-H and the Tropicana Corporation have teamed up to bring public speaking opportunities to fourth-, fifth- and sixth-grade students across the state of Florida.
Nearly 4,000 Citrus County elementary and middle school students researched, organized, and delivered speeches in the classroom and school contests from November through February. Many of our Citrus Virtual students participated as well. This past week, families, friends, teachers, and school district administrators watched the top winners around Citrus County virtually deliver their speeches.
The objective of the 4-H Tropicana Speech Contest is for student participants to increase their public speaking and communication skills. Participants must obtain as much information as possible on a topic of their choosing and carefully organize the material to be presented in a timely and orderly speech. In addition, participants can develop a pleasing personal style before an audience, acquire the ability to speak convincingly in public and express ideas effectively, and develop confidence and poise.
Two students from each public school, and both private schools, came together to shine as they wowed the judges while presenting their speeches. To advance to the county competition, each student earned a top spot at the classroom, grade, and school divisions before advancing to this final round.
Congratulations to all the students that took part in the 4-H Tropicana Public Speaking contests this year. Below is a list of our winners:
4th and 5th grade:
1st Place: Sastia Mitchell / Central Ridge Elementary School – “Dash in the Middle”
2nd Place: Colton Lyles / Crystal River Primary School - “Smart Phones are Dumb”
3rd Place: Lola Blanco / Inverness Primary School – “Mi Quinceanera”
Honorable Mention: Emma Storey / Hernando Elementary School - “Famous Failures”
6th Grade:
1st Place: Gracie Brown / Crystal River Middle School – “What I Want to be When I Grow Up”
2nd Place: Tommy Sparks / Crystal River Middle School – “Industrialist”
3rd Place: Lillian Mullenix / Lecanto Middle School – “Just a Simple Apology”
Honorable Mention: Grant Weed / Seven Rivers Christian School – “Working Part-Time”
Congratulations to the winners and all our students throughout Citrus County who participated in this great event.