The Paton-Churdan Speech Team performed a unique piece that they are taking to a contest this Saturday.

Speech Coach Amanda Tasler says “Let Your Light Shine” is in honor of the memory of their secretary Heather Lansman, who passed away suddenly last summer. She tells Raccoon Valley Radio she had another version in mind when she was crafting this story, but she ultimately wanted to give students a voice as they have had to adapt to a new normal at school without Lansman being physically present. 

Junior Ella Tasler describes one of her favorite parts of the piece.

“I have a line that says. ‘She worked behind glass but never behind walls.’ Because I feel like that is truly what Heather did. You know, she was always in the office but it never really felt like it because you just saw her everyday. You can go in and talk and she would talk with you and she was there for really whatever you needed.” 

Junior Alivya Smith shares what made Lansman so special to her.

“She has a way of making everybody feel like they’re the most important person and it’s everyday, she made you feel that way everyday no matter what. If you were having a bad day, a great day, she’d celebrate the highs and the lows with you and that’s just special.”  

The ten P-C students earned a Division I-Rating on January 24th at the Iowa High School Speech Association District Large Group Contest and are moving onto the state competition this Saturday at West Des Moines Valley High School. The ten students performing the Choral Reading piece can be found below.

Paton-Churdan Choral Reading Ensemble

Anastasia Hobbs

Bridget Hobbs

Catarina Hobbs

Ella Tasler

Alivya Smith

Edynn Smith

Lily Trecker

Kaliyah Minnihan

Phoenix Hartman

Maggie Reed