Hunter Hays, a seventh-grade student at Model Middle School, is the repeat champion of the Gifted Education Middle School Oratorical Contest.  Hays and participants from Armuchee Middle, Coosa Middle, Model Middle and Pepperell Middle participated in the fourth annual oratorical contest on Thursday, January 19, at the Floyd County Board of Education. 

The gifted students competed at the school level to represent their school in the contest.  The top two school qualifiers participated in the system contest for 6th, 7th or 8th grade gifted students in Floyd County Schools. The contest was judged by the Toastmasters of Rome Club. Judges included Robert Bunn, Mike Ellis, Lynn Denson, and Merrill Davies. The participants in the oratorical contest were judged on poise, content of their speech, delivery and overall effectiveness.

Hays will deliver his speech at the February Floyd County Board of Education meeting on Thursday, February 9 at 7:00 p.m.   

The winners of the contest were:

• 1st Place: Hunter Hays – seventh grader at Model Middle School
• 2nd Place: Caleb Gilmore – eighth grader at Pepperell Middle School
• 3rd- Place: Ruth Ann Freeman – seventh grader at Armuchee Middle School

Photo left to right: Caleb Gilmore, Hunter Hays, and Ruth Ann Freeman

Participants included:

• Armuchee Middle School: Ruth Ann Freeman and Rachel McCurry
• Coosa Middle School: Julissa Vasquez and Keiley Roland
• Model Middle School: Hunter Hays and Ella Claire Chambless
• Pepperell Middle School: Caleb Gilmore and Story Vernon