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Healty speech winners
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Elim Elementary fourth-grader Lexie Avalos (pictured middle) was a first place winner and fellow Elim student Landon Rocha (pictured left), finished in second place in the fifth grade division. Avalos speech was If I were to serve lunch in the cafeteria. She said she would serve turkey roll-ups. Rochas speech was Is it true; you are what you eat? - photo by JONATHAN MCCORKELL / The Journal

Three local students were recognized at the Merced County Speech Festival awards ceremony held Feb. 29. Students were given three speech topics to choose from, fourth and fifth grades speech topics centered around healthy eating habits and one of the favorite topics was “If the saying were true, ‘You are what you eat,’ who would you be? How could you make a difference at home or school with regards to nutrition?”

During the contest, hosted by the Merced County Office of Education, students stood in front of the audience and a panel of three judges and read their speeches — some memorized their speeches, some used props and others had vivid gesturing and staging.

Local winners included first place winner, Elim Elementary fourth-grader Lexie Avalos and fellow Elim student Landon Rocha, who finished in second place in the fifth grade division. Avalos’ speech was “If I were to serve lunch in the cafeteria.” She said she would serve turkey roll-ups. Rocha’s speech was “Is it true; you are what you eat?”

Delhi’s Harmony Elementary School also had a second-place winner, fourth grader Juan Gutierrez. His topic was “Healthy Foods.”