By Kelly Doran
Sun staff
Two Williamsburg High School students were recognized for their success in speech contests on March 16.
The Williamsburg Board of Education highlighted the success of sophomore Morgan Campbell and freshman Emily Benton during their monthly Moment of Excellence during the board meeting.
Campbell was one of 24 students in Mark Isaac’s drama class to compete in a speaking contest. The students had to memorize 25 lines from a Shakespeare play and one of six sonnets, Isaac said.
From there, Isaac narrowed it down to five students who performed in front of three judges, he said.
Campbell came in second, with only one point difference between her and the first place winner.
“That typically doesn’t happen. You usually have a person who just stands out from the rest,” Isaac said.
Campbell performed Ophelia’s monologue from Hamlet Act 2, Scene 1 and Sonnet 106.
“She and her classmates did an outstanding job of memorizing and speaking very clearly and very eloquently and she definitely was a stand-out in that,” Principal Heather Powell said of Campbell.
Benton was one of five Williamsburg students that participated in the Williamsburg Rotary Club’s Four-Way Test Speech Contest, Powell said. Benton won first place and competed at the district competition at Wright State.
Benton spoke about what her experiences with horses have taught her, such as how to be a leader, being on a team and trust.
“Imagine how much trust there has to be to put your life in the hands of a thousand pound animal.” Benton said in her speech.
Williamsburg Board President Greg Wells complemented the speakers, saying that they would be on the board 20 years from now.
“Keep working with it, fantastic, such great talents and it’s great to see you putting them to work for the district and for yourselves as well,” Wells said.