Three students selected to All-State Speech Team

Three area students are members of the 2020 MSCA All-State Team for achieving a series of milestones established by the Minnesota Speech Coaches Association (MSCA) by their senior year.
Nicole Hoogland and Alexa Chesley from Luverne High School and Maritza Beltran from Adrian High School are among the 117 speech competitors from 38 high schools who earned the award.
The All-State Team for speech participants is in its fourth year.
In a recent news release, Jason Olson, MSCA president, initiated the all-state award program with “the intention to showcase some of the tremendous student members of the MN speech communities.
“These students aren’t future leaders, they are current leaders and this honor is a recognition of the power of their words and gifts.”
High school speech coaches throughout the state send applications that include “documented excellence” with some 2020 graduates’ achievements dating back to 2015.
The honor is only open to seniors, and students must meet to the additional criteria of:
•competed on subsection/section teams.
•appeared at least once at the Minnesota State High School League speech tournament.
•utilized speech skills in three other activities such as National Honor Society, dramatics or athletics.
The All-State Team recipients will receive their awards via mail because of the coronavirus.
The 2020 speech season was stopped mid-season in March, and all events, including this year’s speech tournament in April, were canceled to curb the spread of COVID-19.