Sam Bryant, an eight grade student at Model Middle School, used his voice and theatre experience to take the title in the 2013 Floyd County Schools Gifted Oratorical Contest. Bryant and participants from Armuchee Middle, Coosa Middle, Model Middle and Pepperell Middle participated in the fifth annual oratorical contest on Thursday, January 24, at the Floyd County Board of Education central office on Riverside Parkway. You may view Bryant's speech on the Floyd County Schools YouTube channel at http://youtu.be/N_NTlTvJ4H8.

The gifted students competed at the school level to represent their school to advance to the system contest. The top two school qualifiers from each school participated in the system contest for 6th, 7th or 8th grade gifted students in Floyd County Schools. The contest was judged by members of the Toastmasters of Rome Club. The participants in the oratorical contest were judged on poise, content of their speech, delivery and overall effectiveness. Each contestant was to give a speech of no more than five minutes on the topic: "Why my voice is important."

Bryant will deliver his speech at the February Floyd County Board of Education meeting to be held on Tuesday, February 5 at 7:00 p.m.

The winners of the contest were:

First Place: Sam Bryant, eighth grade, Model Middle School

Second Place: Keiley Rowland, eighth grade, Coosa Middle School

Third Place: Hunter Hays, eighth grade, Model Middle School

School Representatives

Armuchee Midde School

First Place - Rachel McCurry, eighth grade

Second Place - Ella Carpenter, eighth grade

Coosa Middle School

First Place - Keiley Rowland, eighth grade

Second Place - Julissa Vasquez, eighth grade

Model Middle School

First Place - Sam Bryant, eighth grade

Second Place - Hunter Hays, eighth grade

Pepperell Middle School

First Place - Ragan Ware, eighth grade

Second Place - Brice Green, eighth grade

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