Four Peoria Unified students emerged as first-place winners in the district’s 37th Annual Patriotic Speech Contest held on Thursday, March 7. These students competed in front of their peers at their school sites earlier in the spring semester and 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 two-to-three-minute persuasive speech on one of several patriotic topics based on a prompt. Seventh- and eighth-grade students prepared a three-to-five-minute persuasive speech on patriotism. 

The top Patriotic Speech Contest winners in the 5th/6th grade division: 

• 1^st place winner in the AM Session: Beckett Heapy, Peoria Traditional School
• 1^st Place winner in the PM Session: Grace Kary, Copperwood Elementary School

The top Patriotic Speech Contest winners in the 7th/8th grade division:

• 1^st Place winner in the AM Session: Joseph Garcia, Oakwood Elementary School
• 1^st Place winner in the PM Session: Jirisha Shaji, Marshall Ranch Elementary School

GRADES 5-6, MORNING SESSION

GRADES 5-6, AFTERNOON SESSION

GRADES 7-8, MORNING SESSION

GRADES 7-8, AFTERNOON SESSION