News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Van Buren County’s Dylan Simmons has won first place at the 4-H Central Region Public Speaking Contest.
This makes for Simmons third straight regional title.
“It’s an incredible honor to be able to participate in the Central Region Public Speaking Contest,” Simmons said. “Especially, with everything over the last year with COVID-19. To be able to participate in this and then win the public speaking contest is just incredible. It’s going to make for an incredible memory for my senior year.”
Simmons said now his eyes are set on winning the elusive State Public Speaking Title. Simmons said ever since placing second his sophomore year, he has made it his goal to win the state contest.
“I actually hadn’t won a region title until my Sophomore year,” Simmons said. “(…) I went on a really great run that year. Ever since then my goal and my hope I have had is to go back and win the state public speaking contest and that is part of the reason why I wanted to come back.”
Eight high school students competed in this year’s regional contest. Simmons said speakers were judged on a prepared speech and an impromptu speech. Two are selected to compete for the title with both advancing to state.
“Preparing for this was a bit of a long process,” Simmons said. “It started actually all the way back to March when the sub-region contest was first starting. From there, I kind of got my notes together and idea for my speech. The idea was to create a story that reflected the journey I have been on through 4-H and how that was impacting my senior year. That’s what I wanted to translate in my speech, so we came up with a few stories and ways 4-H affected me. Added in a little bit of humor into, as well.”
First place in the region also comes with an invitation to 4-H State Congress in August. Simmons said he has participated in public speaking since 4th grade and plans to continue that path by studying broadcasting at MTSU.
