Hampton Academy Students Complete Oratorical Research Project

HAMPTON — Superintendent Dr. Lois Costa and Principal Ken Hawkins are pleased to share that Hampton Academy students completed their grade-wide oratorical research project, in which finalists were selected to participate in the New Hampshire School Administrators Association (NHSAA) Innovations in Learning Conference.

The oratorical is a grade-wide research project in which students choose a topic, conduct research, outline and draft a speech, make revisions, and ultimately formulate a clear 3- to 5-minute, fully cited speech that is presented to the class for scoring by their peers.

This is a project-based assignment and student work independently, though their work must meet certain benchmarks.

Following the in-class presentations, the top two scorers in each class present their speeches to a larger group of judges, including a retired teacher, members of the Rotary, and most years, the previous year’s winner.

This year, eight Hampton Academy finalists had the opportunity to read excerpts of their speeches and sit on a panel at the NHSAA Innovations in Learning Conference in April.

Emily Arlington — this year’s winner — read her entire speech titled “No is a Complete Sentence.”

As a group, panelists shared their experiences and answered questions from adults.

Hampton Academy panelists consisted of Emily Arlington, second-place winner Zavier LaPierre, and third-place winner Chase Grugnale. They were joined by the tied fourth-place winners, Jack Hafey and Peter Furtado, and finalists Abby McQuilken, Benten Lyford, and Hazel Brinser.

“Each student represented Hampton Academy well,” said Hampton Academy Teacher Judith Clark. “We are very proud of their confidence and poise.”

Arlington, LaPierre, and Grugnale have been asked to present to the School Board and were also honored for their hard work by reading their speeches at the May Hampton Rotary meeting.