The Perry High School Speech Department is ready to perform at the Iowa High School Speech Association Individual Competition this weekend. 

They had 12 events receive a division-1 rating from the district contest which qualifies them for a performance at the state competition at Ames High School on Saturday. Those following qualifying categories include spontaneous speaking, literary program, musical theater and poetry, storytelling, review and prose, radio and after dinner speaking. Speech Coach Mari Butler says she is confident about her group doing some amazing things at the state competition. 

“I can’t say in enough words how proud I am of all of them. I get energy from being around the students doing this kind of arts and drama event, and I think that they get energy from it too. We had such a successful day. Like speech is just so fun. I’m just proud of them all.”

Senior Amy Aguirre earned a division-1 rating and will be performing in the category of spontaneous speaking. Aguirre says in this category she choses one of three prompts to give a speech about and will only have three minutes to write the speech and deliver it. 

“(Its) so nerve wracking. I think it’s the fact that it’s not prepared. You know, there’s other events where, okay, I have you have so much time to prepare and there’s just like, you have three minutes, buddy. You have to give a speech. Here’s your three minutes. Give a speech. Do it. Well.”

A full list of the students and the categories they compete in can be found below.