Six Decorah High School students participate in All-State Individual Speech Festival

All-State Performers: (Front row, left to right): Naomi Davidson and Aidan Spencer. (Back row, left to right): Maggie Breitenstein, Will Yahr, Brianna Doyle and Connor Freeman.

They're the best of the best--the Iowa high school students selected to attend the All-State Individual Speech Festival at the University of Northern Iowa on Monday.  Six of those in Cedar Falls on MOnday are Decorah HIgh School students.  Maggie Breitenstein has been selected to perform in the Prose category; Naomi Davidson in Acting, Brianna Doyle in Radio News Broadcasting; Connor Freeman in Public Address; Aidan Spencer in Solo Musical Theater; and Will Yahr in Improvisation.
   
"Individual speech is a lot of fun," said Will Yahr.  "It's really scary to get up there all by yourself, but it's worth it when you're finished."  Maggie Breitenstein added, "You become closer to people who are on the team.  Speaking in class gets easier, and it's really so much fun."

Molly Holkesvik, who coaches the squad along with Liz Fox, summed it up this way: "Individual speech is a family: the students learn and grow through practice and watching each other...they learn what makes a good speech and what moves that speech to outstanding: passion, practice, and pizzazz.  More than anything, they learn how to find the truth in every piece and showcase it for the world."