SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Local 4-H members presented speeches and earned awards at this year’s Logan/Menard/Sangamon 4-H Public Speaking Contest, which was held March 25 at the Sangamon County Extension Office in Springfield.
Awards winners included:
- Champion
- Noah Marques, Sangamon County (Auburn), Original Interpretation – Individual
- Reserve Champion
- Samantha O’Neill & Allison O’Neill, Menard County (Athens), Oral Interpretation – Team
- 4-H Public Speaking State Contest Delegates
- Carly Zelhart, Logan County (Maroa), Illustrated Speech – Beginner
- Allison O’Neill, Menard County (Athens), Illustrated Speech – Beginner
- Samantha O’Neill, Menard County (Athens), Illustrated Speech – Advanced
- Samantha O’Neill & Allison O’Neill, Menard County (Athens), Oral Interpretation – Team
- Noah Marques, Sangamon County (Auburn), Original Interpretation – Individual
- Ben Kinner & Emily Kinner, Sangamon County (New Berlin), Oral Interpretation – Team
The contest was judged by Reagen Tibbs and Amanda Gray.
The State 4-H Public Speaking Contest will be held Saturday, April 26, 2025, at Parkland College in Champaign, IL.
Public speaking is one of many life skills taught and practiced in 4-H. To find out more about local 4-H activities visit extension.illinois.edu/LMS/4-H-youth-development.
ABOUT ILLINOIS 4-H: Illinois 4-H is the flagship youth development program of University of Illinois Extension and administered through the College of Agriculture, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences. 4-H grows true leaders, youth who are empowered for life today and prepared for a career tomorrow. The hands-on approach in 4-H gives young people guidance, tools and encouragement, and then puts them in the driver’s seat to make great things happen. Independent research confirms the unparalleled impact of the 4-H experience, demonstrating that young people are four times more likely to contribute to their communities; two times more likely to make healthier choices; two times more likely to be civically active; and two times more likely to participate in STEM programs.
University of Illinois Extension develops educational programs, extends knowledge, and builds partnerships to support people, communities, and their environments as part of the state's land-grant institution. Extension serves as the leading public outreach effort for University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences in all 102 Illinois counties through a network of 27 multi-county units and over 700 staff statewide. Extension’s mission is responsive to eight strategic priorities — community, economy, environment, food and agriculture, health, partnerships, technology and discovery, and workforce excellence — that are served through six program areas — 4-H youth development, agriculture and agribusiness, community and economic development, family and consumer science, integrated health disparities, and natural resources, environment, and energy.