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Prize Winning Students At Our Victory Learn That Speechmaking Is An Acquired ArtLaura Geiermann, Mark Mersmann and Suzanne WernkeAn unusual speech program which has been operating at Our Lady of Victory School on an extra-curricular basis since last year produced three plums in the third annual oratory contest held an Cheviot Sunday.Suzanne Wernke won second place in the 12 to 13 age group, and third place prizes were carried home by Laura Geiermann, 10 to 11, and Mark Mersmann, 14 to 15, in the competition sponsored by the Cheviot Eagles Aerie and the Anthony J. Schwab Post, American Legion. *The three OLV students sp6ke on the reqifired topic, “God, Flag and Country/’ as did all of the 3T7 youthful participants from schools in the Western Hills area Winners were presented their medals by A. H. Huneke, publisher of The News and a 1969 winner of the Hamilton County American Legion Americanism Award.Suzanne, Laura and Mark are products of 1 possibly unique program in their parish, conducted on a volunteer basis by three men who happen to have some speech training background.In November of 1968 Norbert Gibbs, Len Calvin and Ralph Haller started a weekly speech class in the Gibbs' home with eight boys from the OLV eighthgrade Mr. Galvin had speech training in school and with the company he works for. He is a customer instaI lations engineer for Cincinnati Gas and Electric -Co. vMr. Gibbs is sales manager for Lohrey Packing Co. Mr. Haller is a vehicle indentif ication specialist for R. L. Polk Co. Roth Mr. Gibbs and Mr. Haller are members of Toastmasters International, an organization of m e n d e v o t e d t © self-improvement in public speaking.The weekly speaking sessions, initiated at the behest of Sister Mary Rosita, principal of OLV School, follow a Toastmaster format. Youngsters speak for a specified length of time and vote for “best speakers*.' each week.The first class of eight boys was mi successful that the program expanded this year into seven classrooms of 11 children each in the School, with two volunteer adults conducting each group Messrs Gibbs, Galvin and Haller move from room to room with comments and advice. Not everyone stayed with it and there art now about 60 youngsters participatingBesides the current prize winning speakers, a mark of success of the program is that one of its graduates, now a freshman at Xavier High School, felt sufficiently secure aboutspeaking in public that he delivered the homily at a recent mass.Mr. Gibbs said that all of the eight boys who participated last year, now all in high school, frequently return to the 7 to 9 p. m. Thursday classes, to aid the volunteer parentsSister Rosita said, “Youngsters find it difficult to express themselves in front *f people. They need more of a push than we can give them in a classroom situation.” mThe elementary school principal said that she thinks it is a great thing that adults are willing to give two hours of their time every week, in addition to class preparation time, to fill this particular need. She said, “I am thrilled with the program/*The enterprising group ol volunteer leaders and volunteer students will have their own speech contest at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 19, in the School cafeteria Trophies will be awarded to the winners.*
Newspaper Details
The News
Cincinnati, Ohio, US
Wed, Mar 04, 1970
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Cincinnati A.
OH, USA 19 Mar 2024
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