Head boy scoops first place at speech comp
Young speechmakers from Hastings and Napier schools gave a “very professional” showing at the Lions Club speech competition.
Initially, a group of 10 students entered the competition; however, only eight showed up on the night.
The students each presented a five- to six-minute speech on their chosen topic and then an impromptu speech on a topic given to them minutes before they had to perform it.
All three competition judges commented on each speech’s “very high standard” and that “all students were very professional.”
The speechmakers’ overall winner was St. Johns College Head boy Noah Kaio.
Kaio prepared and spoke on how important finding out about your heritage was and working together as one to understand your culture and be proud of it.
Lions club zone chairwoman Fay Nugent said all students had to perform a two-minute impromptu speech on the topic of “When I grow up”.
When asked why Kaio stood out from other contestants, Nugent said he appeared very relaxed when delivering his speech but very passionate about his topic.
The Head Boy was “wellarticulated, informative and inspiring,” the chair said.
Karamu High School Year 12 student and Hastings Youth councillor Lena Ormsby came in second. Ormsby’s prepared speech was about being judged on your skin colour, which does not define who you are.
The topic came from a personal place and covered how this judgment can start at school by not being allowed to participate in kapa haka and similar events because of this.
Nugent said Ormsby gave a “very passionate speech.”
Qualifying alongside Kaio and Ormsby for the district speech competition are Iona College students Imogen Hosford and Kamaia Moore, who placed 3rd and 4th, and taking the 5th spot is Napier Girls’ student Issy Dunnett-Welch.
Regional finals will be in Masterton on June 18. The winners will go on to the national competition in Palmerston North on August 13 this year.