Fourth grade students at Vernon Elementary School recently participated in the 4-H Tropicana Speech Contest.  Students competed first with classmates in homeroom, and then the top three proceeded to the next round -- a grade-wide competition held in the school's cafeteria. 

Homeroom winners were:

• Galloway/McKinney -- Michael Evans, first place; Tabitha Bourkard, second place; Tony Hagan, third place; Ruben Salinas, alternate
• Brown -- Andrew Brown, first place; Aislyn Justice, second place; DJ Mincy, third place; Seth Batton, alternate
• Harmon -- Jayden Bennett, first place; Crystal Kolmetz, second place; Aylssa Curlee, third place; Carly Gambrell, alternate
• Ledet -- Taylor Hammack, first place; Avery Moon, second place; Colby Thompson, third place; Jayde Coatney, alternate
• Thomas -- Kristin Lucas, first place; Billy Bradley, second place; Maegan Zauner, third place; Heath Webb, alternate
• Smith -- Dakota Boyett, first place; Tanner Gillespie, second place; Jessica Smelcer, third place; Angella Coatney, alternate

The overall winners for the VES fourth grade speech competition were: Kristin Lucas, first place; Avery Moon, second place; Aislyn Justice, third place; Taylor Hammack and Colby Thompson, alternates.