With an alumnus serving as Chief Justice of the United States, it will come as no surprise that La Lumiere School has a long history of cultivating effective communicators. The development of communication skills is a key objective of La Lumiere’s curriculum. In pursuit of that goal, students are required to participate in the Annual Speech and Poetry contest. On January 30, twelve students were invited to compete as finalists in the poetry division and four were chosen to compete in the original speech division.
The poetry division contest was held in compliance with the guidelines established by the Poetry Out Loud National Recitation Contest created by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation. Junior Cassidy Dye of La Porte won the contest and will compete at the state level on February 23. Natalie Newell, a sophomore from Schererville earned second place in the competition and will serve as alternate at the state competition. Emet Murillo, a junior from La Porte, won the original speech division for his speech entitled, La Dolce Vita.
The contestants were judged by a panel of business and community leaders; Justine Haka, Program Associate for the Poetry Foundation, Chicago; John Lillig, member of the Board of Directors, Polyphony H.S.; Julie McClure, Managing Editor, Michigan City News Dispatch; and Collin Meissner, Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Studies, University of Notre Dame.
Poetry Out Loud Contest Winner, Cassidy Dye
Poetry Out Loud Contest Runner-Up, Natalie Newell
Emet Murillo, Original Speech Contest Winner
Poetry Out Loud Finalists
Brett Barnard, Michigan City
Daniel Brooks, Michigan City
Lydia Costello, Chesterton
Grace Dybing, La Porte
Cassidy Dye, La Porte
Megan Gillen, La Porte
Johanna Guentert, South Bend
Madison Kemper, New Buffalo, MI
Ian Miner, Ada, MI
Mason Newbanks, Michigan City
Natalie Newell, Schererville
Jamonay Wise, Robbins, IL
Original Speech Finalists
Cormac Gahan, South Haven, MI
Claire Jaffee, Michiana Shores
Emet Murillo, La Porte
Isabella Schuster, La Porte
La Lumiere School is a co-educational, independent boarding and day secondary school providing a college-preparatory education based in character, scholarship and faith. Our rigorous education, personal relationships, and focus on values create a rich learning environment for students. They are known by faculty, staff and other students from all grades. This familiarity enables our students to make lasting connections, engage in academics, participate socially and define their path. Founded in the Catholic tradition in 1963, the student body consists of over 200 students from a rich diversity of backgrounds. It is situated on a beautiful rural estate, 25 miles west of South Bend, 60 miles east of Chicago, and 8 miles from both La Porte and New Buffalo. La Lumiere School is accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISACS) and the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement (NCA).