Local students from Holy Family School recently gained the opportunity to demonstrate their public speaking skills and take pride in personal accomplishments. On Monday, April 11, the students took part in a speech contest sponsored by Modern Woodmen of America, a national provider of fraternal financial services and programs.
    Students competing in the contest were the winning speeches from the 5th and 6th grade level competition. This school level was held at Holy Family School, as each student shared their presentations on this year’s topic, A Great American Invention.
The winners were Hadley Murphy, first place, and Payton Mauler and Baleigh Fry, third place. Each of these students received a trophy and a gold award pin, and their names will be engraved on the school’s speech plaque. Gold award pins were also given to the remaining finalists, Alyssia Strickland, Ashtin Heath, Emma Cape, and Halley Sanders. All participants received certificates of participation for their work. Hadley Murphy will go on to compete at the Diocesan level competition which will be held in Ness City on April 16.
Modern Woodmen’s School Speech Contest is one of six free Youth Educational Programs Modern Woodmen offers to schools nationwide. Over 100,000 students compete in the contest each year. Founded in 1883 as a fraternal benefit society, Modern Woodmen of America offers financial services and fraternal member benefits to individuals and families throughout the United States.