SHS Students Honored as Optimist Speech Contest Winners-All Advance to State Contest

April 23, 2021

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Three Seward High students-Rory Nolan, Noah Fields and Grace Roberts were honored at the recent Seward Optimist Club meeting on Thursday, April 22, 2021 at the Seward Civic Center in the West Fireplace room.  They each entered the local Seward Optimist Oratorical competition and were judged at an informal contest prior to the meeting. The students each wrote, prepared and presented a 4-5 minute speech on the topic “Healing the World with Optimism.”  The contest was sponsored by the Seward Optimist Club and judged by SHS student teacher, Bailey Zimmerer of Creighton, Nebraska.

The winner of the local contest was First Place-Rory Nolan-Grade 12, Second Place-Noah Fields-Grade 10 and Third Place Grace Roberts-Grade 10.  The students all qualified for the State Oratorical Competition, which will be held on May 1, 2021 at 1:00 pm via a virtual presentation. Rory Nolan will be sponsored by the Seward Optimist Club, Noah Fields will be sponsored by the North Platte Optimist Club and Grace Roberts will be sponsored by the Lincoln Friends Optimist Club.

At the Seward Optimist Club meeting, the Seward Optimist Club President Morgan Kozisek and Optimist Club Secretary  Lana Urban presented each speaker with the appropriate, special Optimist Club medal, a certificate and a gift certificate to the Dairy Queen-from the Seward Optimist Club in appreciation for their work on their speech.  Each student then presented their speech to the Seward Optimist Club membership.

Local Oratorical Chair is Clark Kolterman for the Seward Optimist Club.  First Place prize at the state level in this contest is a $2500 scholarship, Second Place is a $1500 scholarship and Third Place is a $750 scholarship.  Last year, Seward High student Cordell Vrbka was Runner-up and won the $1500 scholarship.