HOWELL — Students from St. Veronica School in Howell competed at the Rumson Country Day School Forensics Competition held Nov. 20 at the Rumson campus.
The term “forensics” is used in this competition to describe the art of public speaking, which is demonstrated through skits the competing students performed. Judging was held in separate categories, and many schools took part in the competition, according to a press release.
St. Veronica was represented by pupils in the sixth, seventh and eighth grades in the categories of Dramatic Pairs and Storytelling.
Three pairs of St. Veronica eighth-grade pupils came away victorious in the Dramatic Pairs category.
Awards were given to Grace Groh and Stephanie Hay for “Lost” by Rachel Johannigmier; Alex Oleck and Joe Ventura for “Ghost of a Chance” by Ken Bradbury; and Sophia Zampardi and Maris McLoughlin for “Benny Visits the Eye Doctor” by L.B. Brooks.
St. Veronica alumnus Steven Jacobson, who is now in the ninth grade at the Ranney School, won in the Storytelling category for the Ranney School.
Loretta Boyle, music teacher and moderator of the forensics team, said, “Every year the kids seem to become more and more professional. They are taking their material and really giving the rehearsal process 150 percent, adding in lots of different character voices and physical comedy when it is called for, and addressing the dramatic and serious moments with such emotion. There were so many schools involved in this competition, but I think our St. Veronica School kids can always be distinguished by just having that extra amount of spirit.”