St Rose Student Receives First Place

In Regional Speech Contest

On Friday, May 22, 12 students from Connecticut schools took part in a regional speech contest sponsored by the Modern Woodmen of America. Students competing in the contest, which was held at St Rose School in Newtown, shared their presentations on a person who has influenced and inspired their lives.

Rachel Maguire, a seventh grader at St Rose School, was the first place winner.  Rachel, who received a $50 check from the Modern Woodmen of America, selected renowned pediatric neurosurgeon Ben Carson as the subject of her speech.

Second and third place winners were Thomas Santilli and Olivia Kelly, both students at St Catherine of Siena School in Trumbull. All three students have been invited to participate in the state-level competition, which will be held later this month.

Each winner received a trophy and gold award pin. Their names will be engraved on their respective school’s speech contest plaques. The remaining nine contestants also received a gold pin and certificate for their efforts.

Modern Woodmen of America is a fraternal benefit society based in Rock Island, Ill., that offers life insurance, annuity, investment, and banking products to more than 750,000 members nationwide. The company developed the speech contest in 1948 to offer students an opportunity to develop skills in clear thinking and public speaking. Today, it is an event celebrated in schools across the nation. All materials for the program are provided free by Modern Woodmen.