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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION HONORING THE 2021 IHSA STATE SPEECH CHAMPIONSHIP COMPETITORS FROM THE SOUTH SUBURBS ON THEIR SUCCESS
WHEREAS, the IHSA State Speech Championship took place February 19-20, 2021; and
WHEREAS, due to the COVID-19 pandemic this year’s event was held on a virtual platform; and
WHEREAS, the competition includes overall team sweepstakes and the following individual event categories: Dramatic Duet Acting, Dramatic Interpretation, Extemporaneous Speaking, Humorous Duet Acting, Humorous Interpretation, Impromptu Speaking, Informative Speaking, Oratorical Declamation, Original Comedy, Original Oratory, Performance in the Round, Poetry Reading, Prose Reading, Radio Speaking, and Special Occasion Speaking; and
WHEREAS, the 1st year of the State Series, which includes regionals, sectionals, and the state finals was held in 1941, and this year’s 2021 competition comprised 167 schools throughout Illinois; and
WHEREAS, two Cook County south suburban high schools finished in the top ten in the Team Sweepstakes including: Homewood-Flossmoor High School (5th Place) and Southland College Prep Charter School (7th Place); and
WHEREAS, south suburban Cook County high school participants made a particularly strong showing in the individual events with two 1st Place winners: Adeera Harris and Star Hollis of Homewood-Flossmoor in the Dramatic Duet Acting category and Bri'yon Watts of Southland College Prep in the Dramatic Interpretation category; and
WHEREAS, several other strong individual event results were achieved including: Marcus Bobbitt of Marion Catholic (3rd Place) in Informative Speaking, Adeera Harris of Homewood-Flossmoor (4th Place) in Dramatic Interpretation, Starr Hollis of Homewood-Flossmoor (3rd Place) in Prose Reading, Nia Smith of Homewood-Flossmoor (4th Place) in Oratorical Declamation, Abimbola Adekoya of Marion Catholic (4th Place) in Special Occasion Speaking; and
WHEREAS, other top six finishers from the south suburbs include: Antoine Stokes of Thornton High School (5th Place) in Original Comedy, Alondra Camacho of Oak Lawn High School (5th Place) in Original Oratory, Vicky Olaleye of Homewood-Flossmoor (5th Place) in Poetry Reading, Nyah Ware of Southland College Prep (5th Place) in Special Occasion Speaking, Abimbola Adekoya and Caleb Braziel of Marion Catholic (5th Place) in Dramatic Duet Acting, Homewood-Flossmoor (5th Place) in Team Performance in the Round, and Kieran Hanley of Homewood-Flossmoor (6th Place) in Extemporaneous Speaking; and
WHEREAS, the students worked hard throughout the year to prepare for this year’s championships in a difficult time for all amidst the pandemic, but overcame these challenges to excel at a high level; and
WHEREAS, their excellent results are a testament to the hard work of students and faculty and the parents who supported them; and
WHEREAS, this Honorable Body wishes to congratulate the success of these outstanding south suburban cook county students;
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the President and Members of the Cook County Board of Commissioners congratulates all the south suburban students who competed in the 2021 IHSA State Speech Championships; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT, this text be spread upon the official proceedings of this Honorable Body and that a suitable copy be presented to the south suburban high schools placing in this year’s competition as a symbol of our respect and esteem.
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