Four students emerged as first place winners in the district’s 33^rd annual Patriotic Speech Contest on Wednesday, March 4.

The contest took place in two sessions, one in the morning and another in the afternoon.

For the contest, fifth- and sixth-grade students delivered a two-to-three minute persuasive speech on one of several topics patriotic in nature based on a prompt. Seventh- and eighth-graders prepared a three-to-five minute persuasive speech on patriotism and interpreted famous quotes as the inspiration for their speech.

The top Patriotic Speech Contest winners from morning session, in the 7th/8th grade division:

1^st Place: Mikah Dyer, Sunset Heights

2^nd Place: Sierra Fisher, Apache

3^rd Place: Leah Bucher, Santa Fe

4^th Place: Abigail Welch, Peoria Traditional

5^th Place: Sarah Goodman, Coyote Hills

The top Patriotic Speech Contest winners from morning session, in the 5th/6th grade division:

1^st Place: Sierra Witt, Foothills

2^nd Place: Hannah Coughlin, Vistancia

3^rd Place: Seth Bucher, Santa Fe

4^th Place: Theodora Gurban, Oasis

5^th Place: Danica Dworshak, Coyote Hills

The top Patriotic Speech Contest winners from afternoon session, in the 7th/8th grade division:

1^st Place: Jacqueline Martinez-Amezcua, Pioneer

2^nd Place: Place: Caden Hammond, Frontier

3^rd Place: Zoe Kush, Lake Pleasant

4^th Place: Rick Mascunana, Parkridge

5^th Place: Faith Wilson, Desert Valley

The top Patriotic Speech Contest winners from afternoon session, in the 5th/6th grade division:

1^st Place: Julez Valencia, Cheyenne

2^nd Place: Sydney Day, Lake Pleasant

3^rd Place: Olivia Maccano, Frontier

4^th Place: Savanna Johnson, Zuni Hills

5^th Place: Jeremy Malpica, Country Meadows

Parents and community members can watch and listen to all of the Patriotic Speech Contest contestants on the district’s YouTube Channel beginning April 10 at www.youtube.com/pusdofficialchannel.