TOWAMENCIN- Through public speaking and the celebration of Black History Month, twenty-three North Penn students honored the legacies of renowned black leaders in America in the annual Black History Month Oratorical Competition. With exceptional talent and performances, two first place winners were awarded in the oldest age group: junior David Lyons and senior Dominique Bethel.

The North Penn School District held its annual Black History Month Oratorical Competition on February 24, 2022, in the North Penn High School auditorium where a wide variety of community members attended to watch students ranging from grades 4-12 perform a published speech or poem from a black leader from history or today.

“It’s nice for the community to come back together for such a special event and I think that to be able to end Black History Month with an event like this is a great way to finish,” Assistant Superintendent Dr. D’Ana Waters said, grateful this event was able to happen in person again. 

Welcomed by Penndale assistant principal Dr. Marjorie Diègue and led by Master of Ceremony Isaiah Dia, the night started out with the singing of the Black National Anthem “Lift Every Voice and Sing” by James Weldon Johnson, performed by North Penn student Miaira Jefferson.

The judges were introduced for the competition by Diègue, the panel consisting of Tamara Della Anderson, Nicholaus P. Bernardini, Dr. Jill Clark, J’Mel Johnson, and George Whitehair. 

Beginning with Group 1 (grades 4-5), seven students from elementary schools across the district performed their chosen speech or poem. The performers were:

Isabella Laczynski(4)

Saanvi Waghmare(4)

Juleah Mayberry(5)

Jake Kelley(5)

Katherin Phillips(5)

Peyton Jackson(5)

Olivia Taylor(5)

Next, Group 2 (grades 6-7) performed with eight students performing. The performers were: 

Mollie Devine(6)

Tatyana Pometun(6)

Jeffery Jimmy(6)

Iyanna Charitable(6)

Nokukhanya Ndlovu(6)

Makayla Lewis(6)

Angelica Garcia(6)

Prem Pathak(7)

Lastly, Group 3 (grades 8-12) performed with another eight performances. The performers were: 

Madison Malone(8)

Summer Kresge(8)

Zianna Dobson(9)

Phailin-Rain Ashanti(10)

Kairee Glass(10)

David Lyons(11)

Dominique Bethel(12)

While the results were being decided, a clip from the Colors of Pride assembly earlier this month was played for the audience. Click here to see the clip of students Miaira Jefferson and Isaiah Dia singing ‘Stand Up’ from the movie Harriet.

The time then came for the results to be announced. Assistant Superintendent Dr. D’Ana Waters and Mr. Nicholas Taylor, along with Superintendent Dr. Curt Dietrich, Board President Tina Stoll, and Board directors Dr. Wanda Lewis-Cambell and Juliane Ramic, were present to congratulate all of the students who participated, as well as the winners. 

In Group 1, Payton Jackson came in 3rd place after performing I too by Langston Hughes as well as singing A Change is Gonna Come by Sam Cooke. Katherine Phillips came in 2nd place after performing Amanda Gorman’s Presidential Inaugural Speech, and Saanvi Waghmare won 1st place for Group 1 after performing You Survived It by Viola Davis. 

In Group 2, Jeffery Jimmy came in 3rd place after performing I am the Greatest! by Muhammad Ali, Makayla Lewis came in 2nd place after performing Yara Shahidi’s Black Girls Rock! speech, and Tatyana Pometun won 1st place for Group 2 after performing Praise Song for the Day by Elizabeth Alexander.

In Group 3, Kairee Glass came in 3rd place after performing Drowning Fish by Rudy Francisco, and both David Lyons and Dominique Bethel came in first place for their outstanding performances, Lyons performing Dr. Martin Luther King’s NBC interview from 1967 and Bethel performing Fannie Lou Hamer’s powerful testimony at the DNC in 1964. 

“I was really nervous, I’m nervous every time,” Bethel expressed after the event. She had previously won her age group in both 9th and 10th grade so winning one more time in her senior year means a lot to her. “I’m glad it’s over but I’m happy I won.”

“Their speeches were powerful, they connected with the audience, and they made you feel everything they said, and they moved people,” Waters finished. “Some of them were really activating and they all did a great job.”