Newark High School juniors Mikalya Miller and Shyanne Pilozzi are being sponsored by the Newark Rotary Club to participate in an upcoming Rotary District 7120 Oratorial Speech Contest on Ethics that could result in them receiving college scholarships if they are deemed winners. To qualify, Miller and Pilozzi, and other high school junior contestants from Rotary District 7120 counties _ Allegheny, Chemung, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Wayne, Wyoming and Yates _ must have each prepared 5 to 7 minute speeches on the topic of “The Importance of Ethics in the Life I Plan To Live” and presented them at their local Rotary Club meetings.
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Their speeches must have also reflected these Rotary tenets:
- Is it the TRUTH?
- Is it FAIR to all concerned?
- Will it build GOOD WILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
- Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?
Then, based on a rubric scoring by Newark Rotary Club members that addressed content and delivery, it was agreed both Miller and Pilozzi, who presented their speeches locally December 7th, should be allowed to go on to participate in the contest at a sponsorship cost to Newark Rotary of $200 apiece.
The intent of the contest _ which is co-sponsored by Rochester area colleges _ is to help students build their public speaking skills and confidence.
“I was so excited to hear their speeches and see both students present to the Rotary group and again at the Board of Education meeting,” said NHS Principal Kelly A. Zielke. “They worked hard to deliver their speeches with confidence and responded very well to feedback. I am hopeful that this opportunity is one that offers them both support and I am certain the experience will grow their skills in public speaking. They represent our school very well, and we are so proud of them!
Newark High School English 11 teacher Emily Howard coached both Miller and Pilozzi in preparation of their speeches and fine tuning them after they made their initial presentation to Newark Rotarians.
“I met with the two students several times to work on presentational skills. We talked about eye contact, using the space, and varying vocal speech patterns. After the first presentation at the Rotary Club meeting, I met with the students to provide some feedback and then help them edit the content of their speeches to more closely align with the Rotary Four-Way Test,” Howard said. “I am proud of Shyanne and Mikalya for challenging themselves to enter this contest. I also have had the pleasure to work with both students in Drama Club, so I am not surprised that they are passionate speakers. One quality I've noticed about both young women, is their ability to accept constructive criticism and adjust their work. Students received feedback not only from me, but from a panel of Rotary members in our community. That kind of experience takes a lot of courage and maturity.”
District 7120 Rotary Clubs could sponsor up to 2 candidates.
Newark Rotarian Jean Bendix has served as the Rotary counselor for the Oratorical Contest. “Our committee chose to support both applicants. It is our hope that the whole experience will nurture them,” she said. Miller and Pilozzi will now compete in the semi-final competition February 10 in Canandaigua. Semi-final and final contest dates, times and venues will be posted on the District 7120 Oratorical Contest page here:
https://rotary7120.org/sitepag...
Newark High School Juniors Will Compete In Regional Rotary Oratorical Speech Contest