Participants in the University of Illinois 4-H Public Speaking Contest gathered at Kaskaskia College’s main campus earlier in March, for the annual competition hosted by the Kaskaskia College Communication Program. Eleven youth from four local counties participated in this year’s event. Ransom Detmer of Bond County earned the overall top honor in the 8–13 age division, while Holleigh Hiller of Washington County received the overall top honor in the 14–18 age division. Kaskaskia College faculty members Nathan Young, Professor of Theatre & Communication, and Brandi Wilkins, Professor of Communication, served as judges for the contest.

Participants from Bond County included Ransom Detmer, Allison Hemker, Elena Richards, Ashlyn Richards, Ben Young, and Lyla Tally. Detmer, Hemker, and Richards will advance to the state contest as Delegates, while Ashlyn Richards, Ben Young, and Lyla Tally were named Alternates. Grace Bolin of Marion County and Clara Kozuszek of Jefferson County will also represent their counties as Delegates at the state level. Washington County participants included Holleigh Hiller, Mackenzie Hornbostel, and Titan Clark, with Hiller advancing to state as a Delegate and Hornbostel and Clark serving as Alternates.