Orion Academy wins public speaking competition

Lehrer receives her trophy. Photo by 767 News
Lehrer receives her trophy. Photo by 767 News

Winner of the Kiwanis Public Speaking Competition, who represented the Orion Academy Emma Lehrer, says she felt “really good” to have won title.

Students from different secondary schools on the island took part in the competition at the Dominica State College (DSC) on Wednesday.

Lehrer, 15, told Dominica News Online (DNO) that it was the first time she was taking part in a public speaking competition but said it was “a good experience.”

Lehrer revealed that she found out about the competition just a few days before it took place but the Principal of the school, along with other teachers helped her prepare.

The first round was a prepared speech which she said she handled well.

“I was given three topics to choose from and I chose tourism,” she said. “Second round we were all given the same topic, so you only had fifteen seconds to prepare and the topic was what we did last summer?”

Lehrer is expected to participate in a Regional Kiwanis Public Speaking Championship to be held in Barbados in September.

“I think I have a fair shot at it,” she noted.

The second place went to Almyra Lewis of the Pierre Charles Secondary School, while Selana Cuffy of the Convent High School secured the third spot.

Other participating schools included the Dominica Grammar School and Isaiah Thomas Secondary School.

Almyra Lewis of the PSS receives her trophy
Almyra Lewis of the PSS receives her trophy
Selena Cuffy of CHS
Selena Cuffy of CHS

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12 Comments

  1. Go girl
    March 28, 2015

    So proud of you Almira.. Many more opportunities lie ahead.. You are always the best in our eyes..

  2. SHAKEALEG
    March 27, 2015

    The news item self did not even mention Castle Bruce Secondary, but world we were there and we did well, but tell them THEY ARE NOT ALWAYS GOING TO KEEP US DOWN. we remain the nation’s most student friendly school. I know principal will try to cool us down but it will take a miracle for us to go back there, we were ready to debate they put it off because Roseau schools were not ready and they did not even inform us, boy… nuh..

  3. SHAKEALEG
    March 27, 2015

    Kiwani’s will have only Roseau people in their thing, just wait awhile. they shift the debate because their schools in Roseau were not ready. I was there Grandbay should be NO.1, Convent had no place there, Castle Bruce Secondary should have placed. Why did the person in charge bring the results back to the judges and they said “ok it’s you” you know why they were asked to change the results. Tell them wait for us next year, they will tired wait.

  4. sammie
    March 27, 2015

    Congratulations Emma, You did a great job.

    Good luck in the regional competition

  5. Unky
    March 27, 2015

    Congratulations Emma!

  6. george Fontaine
    March 27, 2015

    What were the criteria? Could you tell us exactly why you think someone else deserved the first place? Delivery, argument, diction, pronunciation, presentation…Let’s make it meaningful!

  7. interesting
    March 27, 2015

    congrats Emma. Keep striving

  8. i was there
    March 26, 2015

    congratulations to you, but as a public speaker and someone who was at the competition; i honestly have to say that i do not think you should have won. the student from the peirre charles secondary was clearly the winner in my opinion and assuredly this was the opinion of many other people. she executed both rounds excellently, and although you inpromty round was better: the peirre charles student definitely was the best overall.
    but such is life. all the best in the regional competition

    • March 26, 2015

      The judges have the scoring sheets which outlines what is expected of the students. Most times the judges are professionals who are qualified and experienced and will pick up on the slightest error that we may not recognise.

    • interesting
      March 27, 2015

      maybe the impromptu round carried more points, it is also possible that the win was not by a huge margin.

    • Bomboclat
      March 27, 2015

      I find for a public speaker as you stated your spelling and punctuation needs serious help! STAY POSITIVE!

    • Inpromty
      March 27, 2015

      And how is your comment going to help the student ? It will only make her feel bad, to her she did her best and won a competition. If you have an issue with the judging take it up with the Kiwanis club and do not attack the young person trying to do something positive.

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