Congratulations to the following students who placed in the TOP 15 at the Eastman Oratory Contest: Kaylee Staton, Kira Adams, Chris Wilson, Alexis Sandefur, Anna Boyles, Claire Hankins, Sydney Cunningham, and Angelina O'Connor.
We are incredibly proud of each student who participated this year and wrote truly amazing essays on the lives and achievements of black Americans to STEAM fields. We are especially proud of Claire Hankins, whose speech placed 1st; Sydney Cunningham, who placed 2nd; and Angelina O'Connor who placed 4th. Combined, these winners won a total of $3,000! You can watch the video of the top 5 essays being presented below.
Eastman conducts a Black History Month Oratorical Contest annually for high school students in Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia. The goal is to inform both students and the public about important contributions made globally by African Americans in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) fields.
A student choosing to participate must submit an original essay about a notable African American contributor. Essays are judged on grammar; how well they demonstrate the African American’s contribution; the credibility and proper sourcing of references; and distinctiveness of the subject and/or topic. Students whose essays are among the top 15 are invited to attend a luncheon during which the top five contenders present their orations and receive monetary rewards. The first-place orator also presents his/her essay at an Eastman-sponsored community event held during Black History Month.