January 28, 2022
By: Mykaela Young, DeKalb 4-H Agent
“If I went back to college again, I’d concentrate on two areas: learning to write and to speak before an audience. Nothing in life is more important than the ability to communicate effectively.” -Gerald R. Ford.
A group of 4-H students from 4th to 12th grade participated in the DeKalb County 4-H Public Speaking Contest on January 11 and one of them, 11th grader Jacklyn Kleparek will be competing at the Central Region Senior High Public Speaking Contest on February 5 at Cumberland University in Lebanon.
The county contest is open to all 7th-12th graders each year and students in 4th-6th grade have individual classroom contests to earn a spot in the county contest.
Students who won 1st or 2nd in their age group at the county contest were eligible to compete in the regional competition held on Monday, January 24 in Putnam County. Jacklyn Kleparek placed in the top 5 in the 11th grade division there which made her eligible to compete in the Central Region Senior High Public Speaking Contest to be held on February 5 at Cumberland University in Lebanon.
“We are extremely proud of our students for all their accomplishments in that they are doing what most adults fear: Public Speaking! They have worked hard and overcome obstacles to be able to speak in front of a crowd. We look forward to the things they will accomplish in the future,” said DeKalb 4-H Agent Mykaela Young
Pictured: (4th Grade) back row: Natali Johnson, Riley Scarbro, Haydin Stacy, Chaelyn Hollingsworth, Austin O’Connor, Elyza Collier, Travis Childers. Front Row: Kara Kelso, Emily Roberts (1st Place), Grady Thomason (2nd place), Bentley Martin (3rd place), Aiden Cook
(5th grade) back row: Balei Benson, Kenna Sykes, Ella Kirksey, Hannah Tobitt. Front Row: Adam Brown, Payne Bryant (2nd place), Cora Cox (1st place), Emmaline Hendrix (3rd place) not pictured: Kinli Fish
(6th-12th grade): Bella Franz (1st place in 7th grade), Chaylea Lunsford (2nd place in 8th grade), Jacklyn Kleparek (1st place in 11th grade), Cali Agee (1st place in 8th grade), Triniti Kelsor (1st place in 6th grade)