He had something to talk about, and the talk got Rumson seventh grader Kevin Buck a first-place win in the first Forrestdale School Speech Contest.

With the Jan. 26 contest featuring 26 sixth- through eighth-grade Language Arts Rumson Enrichment Program (REP) students crafting speech presentations honing in on famous landmarks, Buck’s, about Garden of the Gods Park in Colorado Springs was aptly dubbed Garden of the Gods.

“I am so proud of our sixth, seventh, and eighth grade Language Arts REP students,” Language Arts REP teacher Maureen Gordon said. “Not only did they write beautiful speeches, they were also able to captivate the audience with great deliveries!”

Each student presented a three- to four-minute-long speech on a chosen landmark to three judges as well as an audience of staff and family.

Sixth-grader Micaeli Dym claimed second place with her presentation on The Sphynx. Eighth grader Rylie Spiegel was the third-place winner with The Freedom Tower, and seventh grader Jackson Patton was awarded fourth place for his Mount Rushmore speech.

Working with Gordon, the students were advised that they would be judged not only by their writing skills and quality of information but also by the use of eye contact, gestures, pace and volume. Students presented from their choice of either the stage or a podium, with a backdrop photo of their chosen landmark. The district’s speech language pathologist, Deb Tomaino, coached students in their delivery.

Gordon hosted the event, and judges were: eighth grade language arts teacher Caroline DeWyngaert, fifth grade teacher Aimee Humbert, and seventh grade social studies teacher Keith Laviola.

The judges said that they had a difficult time choosing the winners, since each of the presentations was of a very high caliber.

A link to the full text of Kevin’s speech can be found on the school district website by clicking here.

— Edited press release from the Rumson School District