• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

IN OUR SCHOOLS: Central Student Qualifies for National Forensic League Tournament

Posted on: Saturday, 17 December 2005, 12:00 CST

By Paulette Tobin, Grand Forks Herald, N.D., Grand Forks Herald, N.D.

Dec. 17--As a speaker, Jessica Lei of Central High School is a triple threat.

A competitor in student congress, debate and speech, Lei has qualified in the student congress division for next June's National Forensic League tournament in Dallas.

Three years of competition has helped her polish her skills and has done a lot to alleviate her nervousness at speaking in public, said Lei, 16, a junior.

There is one audience, however, that she finds tougher than speaking at competition.

"It's harder to speak in front of classmates, because you're more concerned about what they think about what you are saying," Lei said.

Lei was one of five North Dakota speakers who qualified for the national tournament during the state student congress competition in Bismarck. With student congress behind her, Lei now is competing in debate. In North Dakota, the debate season runs from the first weekend in December to the first weekend in February, and speech contests run from January to April.

Lei, captain of Central's debate team, could qualify for nationals in debate, too, said Yvonne Kalka, a Central English instructor who is head coach for student congress and speech and assistant coach for debate. In that case, Lei would have to choose which one she wanted to compete in at nationals.

Lei (pronounced "lay") said being a confident public speaker means knowing that your research is solid and that you can support the points you want to make.

"If you practice your speeches beforehand and know exactly what you're going to say, it's going to be better, too," she said.

Kalka said Lei's impressive work ethic and integrity has made her well-liked by her peers and has won respect adults and coaches.

"When she gets up to give a speech, she has a well-thought-out concept," Kalka said. "She has an intellectual way of presenting herself. But she's also very kind. And I think that's what makes her so special."

Lei said she likes speaking about and debating current issues and events. State student congress was special, she said, because the high school competitors made their speeches in the North Dakota House and Senate chambers.

"You get the feeling that you are part of the Legislature and you are debating things that could be law someday," she said. "That felt really good."

School computers

Hatton ( N.D) High School will be among five North Dakota schools that will receive surplus computers from the federal government, a contribution that will help students to technology and enhance their education, Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., announced this week.

Dorgan nominated the schools for the gifts under the U.S. Senate "Computers for Schools" program. Each will receive five computers that are no more than three years old.

Sunflake blankets

First- through fourth-graders made tied fleece blankets at a Christmas project in the after-school program at Sunflake Preschool and Daycare at St. Mark's Lutheran Church.

Sunflake purchased the material, and the children did the work.

Three of the blankets will go to Red River Valley Community Action. The children gave the fourth as a gift to their foster grandmother, Fran Brown.

Kellie York is caregiver for the first- and second-graders, and Diane Fossum is caregiver for the third and fourth grades. Elaine Einarson and Jan Hoffmann are co-directors at Sunflake.

Tobin reports on education, teen news and special events. Reach her at (701) 780-1134; (800) 477-6572, ext. 134; or ptobin@gfherald.com.

-----

Copyright (c) 2005, Grand Forks Herald, N.D.

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

For information on republishing this content, contact us at (800) 661-2511 (U.S.), (213) 237-4914 (worldwide), fax (213) 237-6515, or e-mail reprints@krtinfo.com.

Source: Grand Forks Herald (Grand Forks, N.D.)

More News in this Category