Gilbert Public Schools student takes oratorical success to national gala
Posted 11/1/24
Superstition Springs Elementary School student Ruby Webb, one of the winners of last year’s Gilbert Public Schools Oratorical Contest, successfully gave her speech at the Rosie the Riveter …
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Superstition Springs Elementary School student Ruby Webb, one of the winners of last year’s Gilbert Public Schools Oratorical Contest, successfully gave her speech at the Rosie the Riveter National Gala in Richmond, California.
About 350 people in attendance for Ruby's speech. The district's oratorical contest provided her the opportunity to grow her confidence and speaking skills.
The GPS Oratorical Contest includes students from across the district. Dr. Karen Coleman, coordinator of performing arts for GPS, took over organizing the event many years ago after former Greenfield Elementary Principal Robert Rimer retired.
Coleman said Rimer was inspired to start the districtwide contest after establishing a similar event at his Masonic lodge in the 1950s. For decades, the oratorical contest has been a tradition of GPS.
“It’s very inspiring to see the kids do it," Coleman said. "It usually brings tears to my eyes."
All students who participate in the contest are from GPS elementary and junior high schools, and the competition is broken down into three divisions based on grade levels.
Each K-8th grade student memorizes and recites a speech that is three to five minutes long. Speeches can be well-known or original works, but either way, they should celebrate our shared history and traditions as Americans.
“I have even seen students use their own personal heritage, so it’s very inspiring to see how they take that and represent it in a speech,” Coleman said.
Every year many students who take part choose to get into character by showing up in costume. It’s not required to compete, but it does bring extra flair to the contest.
A panel of judges score each presentation using a rubric and narrow down the competition to the top finalists in each division.
Each year the winners perform their speeches at a governing board meeting.
