First place winner Savannah Little (Rotarian David's daughter), Madeline Baker, Adria Black (3rd Place), Abby Warren, Madeline Blausfuss (2nd Place), and Tessa Batiste brought their individual voices to the theme for Rotary's 2023 Speech Contest: How have you Imagined Working Together to better the lives of others, and how did you implement your idea?
The Quincy Rotary's 2023 Speech Contest, Monday, March 6, was inspirational. Six young people from Quincy High School spoke about their experiences working with and for others to better lives. Senior Savannah Little won first place, touching on her time at RYLA this past summer where she learned it takes a community, funds, and a desire to make things happen and Rotary is an example of this. Second place winner, freshman Madeline Blausfuss spoke about two bake sales she organized as a 4th grader and later as a 6th grader in memory of her grandfather who suffered from Alzheimer's. Raising a combined total of $2700, Madeline picked The Bright Focus Foundation as the recipient of the money she raised since they focused on Alzheimer's research. Third place winner, Adria Black, admitted she was terrified of public speaking, but grateful for the opportunity to make herself better. Her goal is to make others happy with something as simple as a warm smile or a compliment. Effort counts as much at anything in Black's opinion. Tessa Batiste, one of the 4th place winners, said that basketball has shown her the value of effort and teamwork. Abby Warren, also a 4th place winner, said, "Nothing you do is too small to make a speech about it if it is helping others." As 4th place winner Madeline Baker said, "Show up and do the work!" And each of these speakers did just that and thus deserve a heartfelt round of applause.