Kearny Optimist Club Oratorical Contest

My Hero Is....

Kearny Optimist Club Holds Oratorical Contest

Eighth grader Vanessa Reis from Franklin School and 7th grader Rhett Gross from Lincoln School were the first place winners in the Kearny Optimist Club Oratorical Contest held April 14^th at the Grace Methodist Church. The oratorical contest was started by the Optimist International club in 1928 to inspire youth in the art of public speaking and to prepare them for a career in public or corporate service.

The contest this year was opened to any student under 16 years old. Each contestant had to speak between four and five minutes on the topic “My Hero Is”. The Kearny Optimist Club conducts a gender separate contest, with one first and second place winner and three runners up. Other winners included: Monica De Stefano, Schuyler School, 2nd place. Nicole Gouveia, Lincoln School; Caroline Dos Santos, Washington School; and Alexa Canales, St. Stephen's School were the runners up for the young women.

Robert Szeluga, St. Stephen's School took second place for the young men. Samuel Mc Intosh, Washington School; Matthew Murphy, Franklin School; and Daniel Estevao, from Schuyler School were the runners up.

Kearny Optimist Club member William Blevins (left) and Matthew McClane (right) congratulate the winners of the Kearny optimist Oratorical Contest held April 14^th at Grace Methodist Church, Seated (l-r) are: Alexa Canales, Nicole Gouveia, Monica De Stefano, Caroline Dos Santos and Venessa Reis. Standing: Robert Szeluga, Daniel Estevao, Rhett Gross, Matthew Murhpy and Samuel Mc Intosh.