It was a time to present messages and expound on views as high school students from Summerland and Penticton took part in a public speaking contest.
The contest, on Tuesday evening in Summerland, was for students from Grade 9 to 12.
The competition was organized and funded by the Okanagan Skaha School District, but with significant support from the Summerland and Penticton Rotary Clubs.
The top Grade 12 student received a $500 prize.
For students in Grade 9 and 10, the topic was, “If I could change one thing.” For those in Grade 11, it was, “___ once said ____.” For Grade 12 students, the topic was “I want to be defined by who I am, not by who I am perceived to be.
A total of 17 students from Penticton and Summerland were in the competition.
Among the Grade 9 students, Colton Van Camp of Princess Margaret School took first prize while Sylvia Mott of Summerland Secondary School placed second and Katrina Fricke of Summerland Secondary School finished third.
From Grade 11, Giorgia Ricciardi of Princess Margaret School was first, with Coleteon Ashton of Summerland Secondary School placing second and Emma McDowall of Summerland Secondary School placing third.
Katherine Harris of Princess Margaret School finished in first place among the Grade 12 participants. Cassidy Yurechko of Summerland Secondary School was second while Margaret Morales of Penticton Secondary School was third.