Local Student Takes Top Honors in
Rotary Speech Competition
Michelle Adibe, a junior at Buchholz High School, has taken first place in the Rotary Club of Gainesville’s Youth Speakers Contest.
Adibe and two other high school students selected as finalists in the annual competition presented their speeches to nearly 300 local Rotarians recently. Santa Fe High School senior Drew Burgett and Buchholz junior Caitlyn LoMonte took second and third place respectively in the competition. Each student was awarded a trophy and a check.
All three students based their speeches on the theme ‘Making Dreams Real,’ which is the overall theme for Rotary International this year. LoMonte focused on the role her parents have played in helping her achieve her dreams, while Burgett stressed the importance of taking action so that dreams become reality. Adibe talked about a life-changing visit to Nigeria that convinced her to become a health-care professional.
“I want to make dreams come true for the people of Africa,” she said during her speech. “I will do whatever I have to do to make this dream become a reality.”
Club president Dana Nemenyi said she was impressed by the quality of the students’ speeches.
“They all came at this from different perspectives, but they were all wonderful,” she said.
Each year the Rotary Club of Gainesville invites high school students from across the county to participate in the speech competition. Harvey Ward, who oversaw this year’s program, said it benefits both the students and club members.
“It gives the students an opportunity to mingle with community leaders and meet people they wouldn’t otherwise know,” he said. “It also allows them to share their message with people who wouldn’t otherwise hear it.”
Adibe says she enjoys learning about how others have achieved their dreams.
“I know that when I see that someone else has accomplished their goals, it inspires me,” she said. “I know that I can do it too.”