The Nevada County Superintendent of Schools wrapped up an unforgettable 38th Annual Speech Tournament, where talented 4th through 8th graders delivered powerful speeches about an influential person in their life. From family members to famous figures like Leonardo da Vinci and Martin Luther King Jr., the students’ heartfelt words captivated and inspired the audience.

The tournament kicked off on March 7th with a lively round-robin competition that saw 71 students from 13 local schools vying for the chance to be crowned a winner. Each student presented their speech three times, each time to a different judge, while showcasing their speaking skills within a strict time limit of 2 to 3.5 minutes. After rigorous evaluations based on content and delivery, the semi-finalists were chosen and delivered their speeches in front of both judges and an audience.

The final showdown was held on March 11th at the historic Nevada Theatre, where the finalists, chosen from each grade, took the stage in front of an enthusiastic crowd. In honor of International Women’s Day, emcee Sandra Barrington, President of the Rotary Club of Grass Valley, shared highlights of remarkable local women who have made a difference in our community. The evening’s awards were presented by Anita Daniels, one of the founders of the Speech Competition.

Tournament Coordinator Shannon Rashby couldn’t help but praise the amazing volunteers who helped make the event a success. “We have such a wonderful community of retired educators and volunteers from organizations like the Rotary, AAUW, and Toastmasters, who are always excited to spend time with these brilliant students. It’s so much fun to hear what these kids have to say!”

Speech Finalists: (Not pictured, Kalifa Camara) 1st row L-R: Henry Gallego, Maya Alves, Mia Vernon, Harper Gallego, Natalie Loveton, Aria Redmond Elsa Gray, Austin Becker 2nd row L-R: Ella Bailey-West, Dalton Angle, Harrison Reischman, Beck Herzog, Elaine Luisetti, Oliver Goldberg-Bhatti
Speech Finalists: (Not pictured, Kalifa Camara) 1st row L-R: Henry Gallego, Maya Alves, Mia Vernon, Harper Gallego, Natalie Loveton, Aria Redmond Elsa Gray, Austin Becker 2nd row L-R: Ella Bailey-West, Dalton Angle, Harrison Reischman, Beck Herzog, Elaine Luisetti, Oliver Goldberg-Bhatti

Special recognition also goes to Ron Egnes, former Director of Area 64 Toastmasters and head judge of the finals, who was in awe of the students’ abilities. “Some of the speeches were better than high schoolers—better than adults, even!” he remarked.

4th and 5th grade semi-finalists gather for a picture after the speech tournament preliminaries on March 7th at Calvary Bible Church.
4th and 5th grade semi-finalists gather for a picture after the speech tournament preliminaries on March 7th at Calvary Bible Church.

Now, without further ado, here are the 2025 Speech Tournament winners: 4th Grade:

  • 1st Place: Harper Gallego (Seven Hills)
  • 2nd Place: Kalifa Camara (Ready Springs)
  • 3rd Place: Natalie Loveton (Mt. St. Mary’s)

5th Grade:

  • 1st Place: Maya Alves (Seven Hills)
  • 2nd Place: Aria Redmond (Mt. St. Mary’s)
  • 3rd Place: Mia Vernon (Yuba River Charter)
6th – 8th grade semi-finalists gather for a picture after the speech tournament preliminaries on March 7th at Calvary Bible Church.
6th – 8th grade semi-finalists gather for a picture after the speech tournament preliminaries on March 7th at Calvary Bible Church.

6th Grade:

  • 1st Place: Elsa Gray (Union Hill)
  • 2nd Place: Henry Gallego (Seven Hills)
  • 3rd Place: Austin Becker (Mt. St. Mary’s)

7th Grade:

  • 1st Place: Oliver Goldberg-Bhatti (Nevada City School of the Arts)
  • 2nd Place: Dalton Angle (Seven Hills)
  • 3rd Place: Harrison Reischman (Yuba River Charter)

8th Grade:

Beck Herzog, 1st place eight-grade winner, gives a speech about his sister.
Beck Herzog, 1st place eight-grade winner, gives a speech about his sister.
  • 1st Place: Beck Herzog (Grass Valley Charter)
  • 2nd Place: Ella Bailey-West (Magnolia)
  • 3rd Place: Elaine Luisetti (Seven Hills)

These talented students didn’t just impress with their eloquent speeches, they inspired us all. Congratulations to all the winners and participants, as their hard work and dedication were truly evident!

This event was made possible thanks to the generous sponsorship of the Rotary Club of Grass Valley with donations from The Bookseller and Kathy Hillis of the Nevada Theatre Commission.