Inspiring Confidence: Students Deliver Excellence in Bank of America Speech Contest

Elementary school speakers from Kern County showed off their verbal and writing skills Thursday night at the annual Bank of America Essay/Speech Contest. Sponsored and judged by Bank of America employees and the Kern County Superintendent of Schools (KCSOS), the competition allows students in grades four through six to express their personal insights on the topic: “If you could spend 10 days in any city in the world, where would you travel to and why?”

For the essay portion, students submitted research-based, informational essays that expanded on the topic while also including the students’ own experiences. The top essays were chosen for the speech competition. The essay hones critical thinking and writing skills, while the speech portion of the competition fosters confidence, self-expression, and public speaking skills.

The competition not only celebrates academic excellence but also serves as a platform for young writers and speakers to express their creativity and share their perspectives with the community.

Results

4th Grade
1st Place – Steven Moharaj – Ronald Reagan Elementary
2nd Place – Bianca Locquiao – Highgate Elementary
3rd Place – Emanuel Constantino – Stockdale Elementary

5th Grade
1st Place – Mia Cortez – Stockdale Elementary
2nd Place – Deyaan Lakhani – Ronald Reagan Elementary
3rd Place – Kesaline Chao – Leo B. Hart Elementary

6th Grade
1st Place – Juliana Wright – Ronald Reagan Elementary
2nd Place – Addie Atkin – Bimat Elementary
3rd Place – Anthony Medina – Ollivier Middle School