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VUHS Sophomore Wins Local Rotary Speech Contest

Tuesday December 18, 2012

By April Ambrose

   After winning the local Rotary speech contest on December 4th, Vergennes Union High School sophomore, Arianna Duprey has a lot to look forward to. Ari’s moving speech about Peace Through Service, concerning poverty, won over the judges and earned her the winning title. Sponsored by Rotary International, this annual contest gives teens in grades 9-12 a chance to research, reflect and share their views and passions that relate to the theme of service. Rotary is a series of service clubs based around the world that continuously give back to the community and volunteer abroad to help make our world a better place. Arianna’s win came for the Vergennes Rotary group # 7850, when her speech won out over seven other competitors.

  “Teenagers can help by simply educating themselves and others around them. Living in a   strong nation we tend to forget global issues around us and focus on our own problems.” Arianna’s words say it all. After going to the Dominican Republic in July of 2012 to help and being struck by the abject poverty of the town of Jarabacoa and helping to build a house, Arianna felt “ it made her not take what she had for granted”. “ It makes me want to help more in my own community and if given the chance, shared Arianna. “ I would return to the Dominican Republic to help with more home construction.”

   When I first did the speech contest I was a little bit nervous,” shared Arianna about her public speaking. “ Even though the people at the Rotary were very nice, it is hard to stand up in front of others and speak on topics of world importance. After she won, Arianna was “ excited and delighted”  to see where the experience will take her. For Arianna that next step will be the divisional level of the contest in mid January against other teens from clubs in several counties. No matter the result of that contest, the lesson has already been learned and another member of America’s next generation has found and learned to use one of her most valuable birthrights, the Freedom of Speech. Arianna Duprey is a fifteen year old sophomore at Vergennes Union High School and is the daughter of Anthony and Amal Duprey.

   About the author: The Valley Voice is delighted to welcome to the student writing staff, a VUHS sophomore, April Ambrose. April is involved in sports, music, student event planning and has a passion for writing and career plans that include being a professional writer.

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