Hindman Elementary students compete in National Speech Tourney

Traveling by plane or driving fourteen hours to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida sounds like the perfect vacation. That was what eight Hindman Elementary students and their families had in mind beginning June 19th. Of course there was one exciting activity that had to be accomplished before time on the beach started — Competition!

The students had earned the right to compete in the 2018 National Speech and Debate Association Tournament held in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, because they had placed in the top three in their event in the Kentucky High School Speech League state tournament. That was a perfect finale to a very successful year for the Yellowjackets, who are coached by Head Coach Mary Allen and Assistant Coaches Jessica Blackburn and Jason Conley.

The team wishes to thank Mrs. Kim King and the Knott County Board of Education for their support throughout the year. The students who competed were Katlin Slone, Olivia Conley, Madison Baker, Case Grigsby, Cameron Combs, Sawyer Noe, Molly Sandlin and Kole Ingram.

Tournament results were: FINALS: Olivia Conley – 5th Place in Dramatic Interpretation and Case Grigsby – 6th Place in Poetry. SEMI FINALS: (Top 12). Kole Ingram – Impromptu Speaking and Extemporaneous Speaking and Madison Baker – Impromptu Speaking. QUARTER FINALS (Top 24) Olivia Conley – Duo and Humerous Interpretation, Sawyer Noe – Impromptu, Case Grigsby -Humorous Interpretation, and Cameron Combs Oratory and Duo.

Hindman students were among over 1,000 students, representing 166 schools, 32 states and 7 countries. The students are already looking ahead to next year where the tournament will be held in San Antonio, Texas. Best wishes to the Hindman Elementary School Speech team for a continuing source of pride for Knott County. The team wishes to thank Mrs. Kim King and the Knott County Board of Education for their support throughout the year.

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