Danville sends 8 to Washington for CFL National Speech Tournament

Danville High School qualified six entries and eight students to the Catholic Forensic League Grand National Speech Tournament to be held in Washington, DC, over Memorial Day weekend. Students earned their spots at Nats by placing in the top six in their respective events at the Louisville Diocese tournament (covering all of Kentucky) March 3. At the Kentucky qualifier held in Hodgenville, the team placed third overall behind Bethlehem and LaRue County with Murray and North Oldham fourth and fifth.  Senior Caroline Bugg led the team with a first place finish in Extemporaneous Speaking. Also advancing to DC are Katie Critchfield (Extemporaneous Speaking), Claire Strysick (Oratory), Emma Merryman (Oratory), and the Duo Interpretation teams of Haley Hopkins and Joseth Warner plus Barrett Minks and Britton Minks. 

Additionally, DHS bus driver James Murphy was awarded the Ruth Blair Service Award for his twenty years of dedicated service to the DHS Forensics team. A nomination letter from Coach Steve Meadows was read at the awards ceremony, and Murphy received a plaque and a standing ovation from the assembled schools.

Danville second place at KESDA \

Danville High School placed 2nd overall at the annual Kentucky Educational Speech and Drama Association (KESDA) Forum February 22-24. Lexington Dunbar was named KESDA Champion team with Rowan County third, Bowling Green fourth, and Boone County fifth overall. Dixie Heights won Small Schools with Dunbar taking Team Efficiency. Students competed in eighteen contests over three days in Lexington. 

Sixteen DHS entries advanced to the final rounds (or top 6) to win the major awards at the contest: Caroline Bugg (2nd Congressional Debate, 2nd Extemporaneous Speaking, 5th Impromptu Speaking), Katie Critchfield (3rd Congressional Debate), Paige Glasser (6th Poetry), Charlie Hall (Champion, Humorous Interpretation), Emma Merryman (3rd Impromptu Speaking), Summer Quinn (6th Declamation), Claire Strysick (2nd Informative Speaking, 5th Oratory), Joseth Warner (3rd Dramatic Interpretation), Virginia Harp and Samantha Sallee (4th Duo Interpretation), Sara Barringer and Kelsie Steber (5th Duo Interpretation), Haley Hopkins and Joseth Warner (6th Duo Interpretation), and Charlie Hall and Barrett Minks (Champions, Duo Improvisation). The Group Interpretation entry of Libby Hale, Virginia Harp, Evey Kinkade, Samantha Sallee, and Claire Strysick placed third overall. Natalie Grubbs and Joseth Warner (Prose) and Emma Merryman (Broadcasting) were also recognized as Finalists at the event.

Additionally, many Danville entries advanced past preliminary rounds to Semifinals (top 12) or Quarterfinals (top 24) in their respective events: Sara Barringer (Informative Speaking Semis, Prose Quarters, Storytelling Semis), Katie Critchfield (Extemporaneous Speaking Semis), Caroline Graves (Humorous Interpretation Semis), Natalie Grubbs (Informative Speaking Semis), Libby Hale (Prose Quarters), Charlie Hall (Broadcasting Semis and Oratory Semis), Virginia Harp (Declamation Semis), Emma Merryman (Informative Speaking Semis), Barrett Minks (Dramatic Interpretation Semis), Becky Mohr (Super Session of Congress, Impromptu Speaking Semis, Oratory Semis), Summer Quinn (Broadcasting Quarters), Samantha Sallee (Declamation Semis), Claire Strysick (Dramatic Interpretation Semis and Impromptu Speaking Semis), the Improvisational Duo teams of Paige Glasser/Libby Hale and Haley Hopkins/Joseth Warner (Semis), and the Duo Interpretation team of Barrett Minks and Britton Minks (Semis). Freshmen Eleanor Tubb (Extemporaneous Speaking) and the Duo Interpretation team of Megan Goosey and Jenna Haines were also recognized as the Outstanding Novices in their events at the meet.

Three DHS students placed in the top ten in the John Edwards Pentathalon contest. The event requires students to compete in five categories including at least one of each of the three types of contest speaking (Original Speech, Limited Preparation, and Interpretation). Charlie Hall placed fourth, Claire Strysick sixth, and Caroline Bugg eighth in this overall event.

Burns awarded DAR scholarship

Sarah Burns, senior at Boyle County High School, is the 2017 St. Asaph chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution scholarship winner.

Because Sarah could not be present at the annual award presentation of the local chapter, her award will be presented at the Boyle County High School awards event by St. Asaph regent Nancy Kettelholn. Sarah’s entry was forwarded to the Kentucky Society Daughters of the American Revolution for judging.

Sarah plays girls’ soccer, is on the swim and dive teams and runs track and field. She is a member of the National Honor Society, Y-Club and Spanish club. She says she has “a passion for languages.”

She attends Sts. Peter and Paul Church where she is active in the youth group, is an altar server and cantor.

She is a Pioneer Playhouse volunteer as well as the Kentucky School for the Deaf summer camp dance instructor. She also volunteers at Grace Cafe and the Great American Brass Band Festival.

As a rising senior, she attended Governor’s School for the Arts in vocal music.

Sarah has a 4.273 weighted GPA and is second in her class of 235.

Sarah will attend college but is undecided at this time; however, she wants to study sports psychology. She says in her essay that following her interests “beats making more money any day. It is because of this that I can truly say I’m excited for what my life holds.”

Sarah is the daughter of Carole and Gregory Burns. 

Local students among fall graduates at EKU

RICHMOND, Ky. – Eastern Kentucky University recognized 1,058 graduates at the conclusion of the Fall 2017 semester.

The graduates were honored at separate academic college commencement ceremonies Dec. 15.

Local EKU graduates include:

BOYLE COUNTY

Denise Preston Young, Perryville; Cortney Brooke Enlow, Perryville; Hannah Ruth Galloway, Danville; Esther Rugerio, Danville; Bryana Ellen Deatherage, Danville; Paige Michelle Worthington, Perryville; Bradley S. Slone, Danville; Shelby Lynn Acey, Perryville; Gwendalyn Gail Campbell, Perryville; Kevin Kuntzsch Greer, Danville.

CASEY COUNTY

Regina O. Martin, Liberty; Abby Lauren Buis, Liberty; Mariah Taylor Richardson, Liberty; Sarah Ruth Beard, Liberty; Zachary Taylor Scott, Middleburg.

GARRARD COUNTY

Tiffany Nicole Skeens, Lancaster; Angela Suzanne Gesner, Paint Lick; Jared Keith Prewitt, Lancaster; Shauna Nicole Howard, Lancaster; Amanda Jean Smith, Lancaster; Christina Anne Cummings, Lancaster; Kelsey Morgan Arnold, Lancaster; Devin Cade Murphy, Lancaster; Brandon James Firmature, Lancaster; Caitlyn Ann Hume, Lancaster; Brian Matthew Gesner, Paint Lick; Brittany Rachelle Hammond, Lancaster; Reno Ballou Davis, Lancaster.

LINCOLN COUNTY

Hannah Carol Chaney, Hustonville; Courtney Layne Martin, Stanford; Amanda Nicole Frith, Crab Orchard; Kendra Renee Hines, Stanford; Lori VonGruenigen, Stanford; Destiny Le’Joi Routt, Stanford; Taylor Moriah Baker, Stanford; Savannah Nicole Martin, Stanford; Cody Eric Jarrett, Stanford; Lindsay Morgan High, Stanford; Joshua Nicholas Tolar, Stanford; Ashley Faye Frith, Stanford; Jerica Elaine Nanik, Stanford; Remonica D’Shay Garr, Stanford; Joshua Scott Sallee, Hustonville; Brett Alexander DeShon, Stanford; Kathryn Pearce Blaine, Stanford; William Joseph Johnson, Stanford; Christopher Matthew Bonagofski, Stanford.

MERCER COUNTY

Joyce Anne Sanders, Harrodsburg; Staci James Brown, Harrodsburg; Eleanor Mattie Sears, Salvisa; Morgan Nicole Horn, Harrodsburg; Sanket K. Patel, Harrodsburg; Scott Mckenzie Conyers, Harrodsburg; Brendan Tyler Hardin, Harrodsburg; Jessica Breann Robinson, Harrodsburg; Raegan Marie Freeman, Harrodsburg; Brian Keith Morrison, Harrodsburg.

The new degree holders join more than 140,000 Eastern alumni in Kentucky and across the United States and world.

Eastern Kentucky University is a comprehensive university serving approximately 17,000 students on its Richmond campus, at its educational centers in Corbin, Danville, Manchester and Hazard, and throughout Kentucky.