Sherman pupils place in state oratory contest

4/18/2002

Sherman Elementary students Migueal Taylor and Shafay Sutton won second and third place, respectively, at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. state oratorical contest in Columbus earlier this month.

Migueal and Shafay, both third graders at the school, placed second and third in the primary division of the contest against seven other contestants from around Ohio. Wendy Boyes of Canton won the division.

In the local MLK oratorical contest in January, Shafay finished first and Migueal second in the primary divisions, qualifying them to compete in the state meet.

“This has really been a self-esteem booster for the kids and the other students,” said Lonnie Rivera, principal at Sherman.

Mr. Rivera credited Nancy Sloan, a teacher with the school's reading program, and Laneta Goings, one of its coordinators, for coaching and helping the students.