Mr. Ross Smith, Deputy Director of Education for Curriculum Development and Instruction congratulated the first, second and third place winners of the Voices of Hope Championship Speech Competition.
Pictured L-R: Deshon Johnson, Mastic Point Primary School, 3rd Place Winner; Kianté Stuart, Columbus Primary School, 1st Place Winner; Myeisha Louis, Cleveland Eneas Primary School, 2nd Place Winner and Mr. Ross Smith, Deputy Director of Education, Curriculum Development and Instruction.
Kianté Stuart, Head Girl of Columbus Primary School emerged as the winner of the exciting and keenly contested sixth Voices of Hope Championship Speech Competition held on Friday, 30th November, 2012. In second place was Myeisha Louis of Cleveland Eneas Primary School and Deshon Johnson of Mastic Point Primary School claimed the third place position. The speech competition, held every November, is a part of the celebration of Religious Studies Month, an initiative of the Religious Studies Unit of the Department of Education. The purpose of the competition is to provide an opportunity for students to express their beliefs and opinions about spiritual, moral and ethical issues and to enhance their literacy skills. The theme for this year was “The Winner Within”.
Kianté successfully maneuvered through her presentation, which began and ended with a poem about her positive virtues that will cause her to be a winner in life. She shared that she thought a winner is someone who is hardworking and whose hard work brings success and secondly, one who sets a goal and goes after it until he or she achieves it.
Kianté mentioned Thomas Edison, David, the shepherd boy of the Bible and herself as examples of winners. The confident sixth grader said, “I was born to win and to succeed and the fact that I am standing here is all the proof I need”. For her great effort, Kianté received the first place trophy, the Northeastern District winner’s trophy, a Kindle Fire and a $50 cash prize.
Chief Judge, Toastmaster Shervin Lloyd, commended the participants for the wonderful job they did in presenting their speeches. He pointed out that the students displayed excellent eye contact; vocal variety; confidence; humour; originality; excellent reference to personal experience; knowledge of current events and good use of props.
Of special note is the fact that the Eleuthera District participated in the competition for the first time this year. Johnecia Pinder of Rock Sound Primary represented the district.
