For the first time in two years, Lakeland participated in speech districts in person, with it being canceled one year and online the next due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Districts consisted of five schools, including Lakeland, Moscow, Lake City, Post Falls, and CDA Charter. 

The event was held at Moscow High School in Moscow, Idaho. 

Out of 7 entries from Lakeland, four students qualified for state, with Three Seniors and One Junior. Jordan Hodgkins, Berklie Ogieglo, Branden Smith, and David Tesch all placed in their events. 

Colleen Hall, Speech and Comm 101 teacher, enters her 25th year of advising speech districts for Lakeland. 

“We outperformed what we should of…everybody that went to districts worked hard and tried their best. The four that made it to state did such an awesome job, they are very deserving,” Hall said. 

Jordan Hodgkins, Senior at Lakeland placed second in Retold Story.  

“A rush of emotions of happiness and excitement, a lot of pride,” said Hodgkins. Hodgkins expects a lot of competition at State. 

Berklie Ogieglo, Junior at Lakeland placed second in Informative. 

“I honestly didn’t think I would, the other girls were so good and really talented,” Ogieglo said.  

“Doing the best I possibly could regardless of how I place,” Ogieglo said about state. 

Branden Smith, Senior at Lakeland placed first in impromptu. 

“I was honestly surprised, overall excited.” 

Smith’s learned more about impromptu during his Comm 101 class. Hall would give her students one word and had to make a speech from that word.

“A lot of push from Hall for me just to join…that’s kinda where the spark started,” Smith said. 

David Tesch, Senior at Lakeland placed second in Radio and Broadcast. 

The speech state qualifiers will leave for Pocatello on April 7th