Wilson wins Geneva’s eighth-grade competition

The eighth grade oratory contest is a highlight of Geneva’s Logic School experience.

The competition began in 2007 and has become a tradition in which each student memorizes a piece from a selection of historic poems and speeches and delivers his or her prepared recitation in front of a panel of judges. It is a precursor to the Senior Thesis in which students present at the culmination of their final year at the Geneva School of Boerne.

After six weeks of practicing and honing their speaking skills, all 62 eighth-graders presented either a historical speech or poem in front of their peers, parents, faculty and judges during the preliminary round of the contest. From this, the top 10 speakers advanced to the final round of competition which took place on Monday, March 7, in Geneva’s Lyceum.

First place was awarded to Reid Wilson for his delivery of “Citizenship in a Republic” by Theodore Roosevelt. Joshua Patteson earned second with his recitation of Ronald Reagan’s “Evil Empire” speech. Emrey Taylor finished in third place for her delivery of “A Ripple of Hope” by Robert F. Kennedy. Other finalists were Abigail Bussey, Brady Chandler, Nick Dube, Julia Hammock, Beth L., Siena Svendsen and Peyton Turnbow.

“At Geneva, we help students grow into servant leaders who can speak with confidence and humility,” Logic School teacher Deb Herczeg said. “In Logic School, the oratory experience gives them an opportunity to stretch themselves, communicate with passion and conviction and share with an audience the powerful words of someone they admire. When they realize the power of words – their own or someone else’s – students begin to see the power they have to build God’s kingdom through sharing the message of Jesus.”