By james art 
The audience of the annual Gilbert public school competition on January 30 was in the presence of some of the most famous historical figures in America … species.
Thirty -two students participated in the annual competition representing GPS elementary and junior high schools. Each competitor remembers and recites speech about five minutes on the subject of “Our American Heritage”.
The speeches can be of a known, remarkable historical figure or original work from the student’s participant.
To add to their performances, many students dressed as famous speakers. Although not required to compete, it was a fun addition to both students and the audience.
Different levels of evaluation had their own division in the competition: kindergarten class per second, third sixth grade and seventh grade. The presentations were noted by a panel of judges, which defined the best finalists in each division.
Kindergarten Department per second:
First place: Sway Vasquez – Highland Park, Martin Luther King Jr.
Second place: Elissa Yatzil Morelos -pina – Spectrum, Sacagawea
Third place: Ayaansh Jha – Highland Park, Neil Armstrong
Third sixth grade division:
First place: Julia Fingar – Lake Val Vista, Ruby Bridges
Second place: Oliver Campos – Spectrum, Benjamin Franklin
Third place: Olivia Osterman – Finley Farms, Sacagawea
Third place: Ruby Webb – Superstition Springs, King of Rock & Roll
Seventh-eighth grade Division:
First place: Kennedy Hoffschneider – South Valley, The Pillars of American Heritage
Winning students from each of the three divisions will recite their statements at the meeting of the Board of Directors on February 25th.