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Seth Bucher of Santa Fe Elementary School won first place in the a.m. session of the seventh and eighth grade session. (Submitted photo) Jeovanni James, center, from Sahuaro Ranch Elementary School was the first-place winner in seventh and eighth grade p.m. session. Here, he is pictured with the patriotic speech judges Lori Billings, retired Peoria Unified School District third grade teacher; Sally Datria, ELA curriculum and instruction coach; Monica Ceja Martinez, Arizona Council on Economic Education director of operations and former PUSD Governing Board member; and Mary Carlson, math curriculum and instruction coach.

Joey Garcia, Oakwood Elementary School, firstplace winner in the a.m. session of the fifth and sixth grade division, is congratulated by Peoria Unified School District Governing Board President David Sandoval. (Submitted photo) Grayson Goss, Canyon Elementary School, firstplace winner in the p.m. session of the fifth and sixth grade division, shows off his trophy beside Deputy Superintendent Dr. Jason Reynolds. (Submitted photo)

Peoria USD students compete in patriotic speech contest

BY PEORIA TIMES STAFF

Four Peoria Unified students emerged as first-place winners in the district’s 35th annual Patriotic Speech Contest held on March 10.

The students competed in front of their peers at their school sites earlier in the spring semester. They then advanced to the district-level competition, where they delivered their presentation in front of an esteemed group of judges.

For the contest, fifth and sixth grade students delivered a 2-to 3-minute persuasive speech on one of several topics patriotic in nature based on a prompt. Seventh and eighth grade students prepared a 3- to 5-minute persuasive speech on patriotism.

The top Patriotic Speech Contest winners in the fifth and sixth grade division were Joey Garcia, Oakwood Elementary School, first-place winner in the a.m. session, and Grayson Goss, Canyon Elementary School, first-place winner in the p.m. session.

The top Patriotic Speech Contest winners in the seventh and eighth grade division were Seth Bucher, Santa Fe Elementary School, first-place winner in the a.m. session, and Jeovanni James, Sahuaro Ranch Elementary School, firstplace winner in the p.m. session.

Video highlights from the Patriotic Speech Contest will be available on the district’s website by April 1. PT