Press Release

An Oratory Accomplishment

On Wednesday, February 9th, eight students from Word of Life Lutheran School competed in a speech competition. Two of the Word of Life participants were selected as the first place winners.

WHO:             Eight Seventh and Eighth Grade Students

                        Speech Coach and Teacher – Miss Katie Luepke                                  

WHAT:           The Oratorical Competition  

WHEN:           Wednesday, February 9th at 7:00 P.M.

WHERE:         South Side and Arnold Optimist Club

“If I were the leader of the free world, the first issue I would address would be…” This was the challenging and thought-provoking topic of discussion at the oratorical competition of which eight Word of Life students participated. According to Katie Luepke, their speech coach and teacher, “The students worked hard to write and reword their speeches.” Apparently, the hard work paid off. Word of Life left with a bronze medalist, Vincent Hanak, a silver medalist, Olivia Lopez, and two first place winners, Alexis Stockton and Erika Lettner.     

Getting to this place was not an easy task. Students were randomly called in front of a panel of three judges and an audience to present their speeches. As intimidating as that can be for both the students and their teacher, Luepke states, “It was such a joy to work with dedicated students and to (see them) have such success at the competition.” The two first place winners now have the opportunity to go on to a district competition.

The other participants from Word of Life include: Kalilou Johnson, Courtney Kraemer, Joseph Tortorello, and Mark Young. 

Word of Life Lutheran School  is a member of the Lutheran Elementary School Association (LESA), a registered, non-profit education organization made up of thirty-seven elementary schools and related agencies in the city of St. Louis, St. Louis county, St. Charles County, Franklin County, and Jefferson County in Missouri, and Madison, Monroe, and St. Clair counties in Illinois.

For more information, contact:

David Robinson, Principal – Word of Life Lutheran School

(314)832-1244