Tuesday, Mar. 12 2013 3:50PM

SLMS students capture awards at school oration contest

David Treece and Annie Thomas recently captured the top awards in the Summit Lakes Middle School oration contest, sponsored by the Lee's Summit Optimist Club. David won first place in the boys division, and Annie won first in the girls division.

Other winners included Cortney Mays, second, and Matt Gauert, third, both boys division, and Peyton Culclager, second, and Simone Jacoby, third, both girls division.

Students participating in the contest were Josh Carter, Peyton Culclager, Dominic Diaz, Matthew Gauert, Drake Honn, Catherine Hutinett, Simone Jacoby, Emily Marsh, Sky Masters, Cortney Mays, Kadi Nathan, Claire Phillips, Bryce Presley, Kristina Taylor, Annie Thomas, David Treece and Alexandra Wilber.

David Treece and Annie Thomas will advance to the next level, known as club. Club winners advance to zone and then regional. Regional winners will earn a $2,500 scholarship to a college of their choice. The oration topic this year is “Why My Voice is Important.”