The District Individual Speech Contest will be held tomorrow, and the host Adel-DeSoto-Minburn Speech Team will have a wide assortment of participants this year.

ADM Speech Coach Jacque Seidl says she has 26 students performing 32 entries this year, which she says is a big jump from recent years. Categories the team will be competing in include: solo musical theater, acting, prose, poetry, literary program, spontaneous speaking, improvisation, radio news, after dinner speaking, expository address, original oratory, and storytelling. She attributes the increase in participation to a helpful schedule. “It also is very beneficial for us that State Individual (Contest) does not land on spring break this year, it’s the week before. So that really helps our numbers, because our band and choir kids are going to Florida over spring break. So we are very grateful that those do not align this year and we can have some kids. And so we’re hoping to continue to grow that, because that’s where kids really grow, is when they can individually work on their own skills as a speaker.”

The district contest will begin at 8 a.m. tomorrow, with events happening throughout the day at 12 different centers. Cost to attend is a $3 suggested donation, with proceeds going to the host school. Participants from 30 total schools will compete at ADM, including Perry, Greene County, Paton-Churdan, West Central Valley, and Panorama. Those that receive “I” ratings will advance to the state contest on Saturday, March 9th at Nevada High School.