The Waupaca County Land and Water Conservation Department held its 56th annual Conservation and Environmental Awareness Speaking Contest Tuesday, Feb. 4, at the Waupaca Learning Center.
Judges awarded first through third-place honors to the following students:
Elementary Division
• First Place – Breanna Weiland, Weyauwega Christ Lutheran School, for her speech, “The World’s Greatest Sponge.”
• Second Place – Sam Nikolai, Weyauwega Christ Lutheran School, “Do The Flop.”
• Third Place – Carson Kester, Weyauwega Christ Lutheran School, “Toxins, Coming to a Waterway Near You.”
Junior Division
• First Place – Natalie Rustad, Iola-Scandinavia Middle School, ” Myklebust’s Buckthorn.”
• Second Place – Lauren Kester, Weyauwega Christ Lutheran School, “Prairie Natives Endangered.”
• Third Place – Claire Berndt, Weyauwega Christ Lutheran School, “The Flesh Eating Box.”
Other participating students were Kaitlyn Bubolz, Isaac Buhrow, Anna Bubolz, Sophia Buhrow, and Kyle Kamnik, Weyauwega Christ Lutheran School; and Trenton Niemi, Iola-Scandinavia Middle School
This year’s judges were Pat Craig, Ryan Brown, Corey Schuelke and Debbie Krogwold.
The first-place winners will speak at the District Level Competition Feb. 20 at the Waupaca County Courthouse, competing against students from Marquette and Outagamie Counties.