Bunbury Catholic College Student wins ‘Speak for Faith’ Competition
Five of six participating students for CEWA ‘Speak for Faith’ competition at the final round. From left to right: Stacey Blott, Cooper Hagan, Oisin Buckley, Luke Commins and Caitlin Stanley. Photo: Theresia Titus.
By Theresia Titus
Bunbury Catholic College (Marist Campus) Year 12 student Luke Commins has been awarded first place in a speech completion after beating 18 Catholic students from WA on Monday 20 August.
Organised by and held at the Catholic Education Western Australia office, the event was fully sponsored by the Catenian Association WA.
Sacred Heart College student Stacey Bolt as the runner-up, to her left, is President of the Catenian Association in Western Australia Kevin Hefron. Photo: Theresia Titus.
Stacey Blott from Sacred Heart College, Sorrento has taken the second place and Cooper Hagan from Christian Brothers College, Fremantle has taken the third place.
Cooper Hagan from Christian Brothers College, Fremantle as the third-place winner with President of the Catenian Association in Western Australia Kevin Hefron. Photo: Theresia Titus
Catenian Association member Gerard Tonks stated that the winners shared cash prizes amounting to $1,200 - provided by the Catenian Brothers, with each receiving engraved medallions.
“The competition started with 19 students from twelve schools, including Bunbury and Northam on 11 August,” Mr Tonks said.
Six students competed at the final round, and three other students were Oisin Buckley from Bunbury Catholic College-Marist Campus, Maddisyn O’Grady from Santa Maria College and Caitlin Stanley from St Brigid’s College, Lesmurdie.
Each participant of the competition received certificates for presenting a prepared five-minute speech on a topic or theme on Catholic ethics drawn from their religious education course.
Maddisyn O'Grady from, Santa Maria College, Perth as one of the six students competing for CEWA ‘Speak for Faith’ competition. Photo: Theresia Titus.
After delivering their prepared speeches, the adjudicators of the competition gave them a topic and five minutes to prepare for their impromptu speeches, which had to be addressed in two minutes.
At the end of the students’ presentation, they were given commentaries from the adjudicators and were judged by their passion in their subjects displayed, their enthusiasm for the event and speaking skills.
President of the Catenian Association in Western Australia Kevin Hefron and Year 12 Bunbury Catholic College (Marist Campus) being awarded as the winner of the competition. Photo: Theresia Titus.
At the end of the result announcement, President of the Catenian Association in Western Australia, Kevin Heffron, acknowledged the performance of the students, especially Luke Commins as the winner.
“From the three sessions leading up to the finals, this evening; we have learnt a great deal from many aspects and are very much indebted to all of the participants from the twelve schools,” Mr Hefron said.
Mr Hefron also acknowledged the staff at CEWA for their valuable input for the event.
The annual competition started with a trial run involving five Catholic schools in Perth, organised and sponsored by the Catenian Association of Catholic laymen in WA.
Deemed to have been successful with a strong response and enthusiasm from invited students who delivered high-quality speeches, CEWA took the administration role of the event to involve all Catholic Colleges and High Schools in Perth and regional areas.