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HomeNewsArchivesDeath Penalty Declamation Takes 1st in Rotary Speech Contest

Death Penalty Declamation Takes 1st in Rotary Speech Contest

(March 15, 2008) — Using the example of Stanley "Tookie" Williams, the Los Angeles gang leader executed by lethal injection, Laila Cintron took on the issue of capital punishment Saturday, captivating the judges and taking home first prize at the Rotary Club Harborside's first 4-Way Speech Contest.
The competition for high school students, held at the Casino Control Commission, featured 10 students who were asked to address an ethical problem using the principles of Rotary’s 4-Way test: Of the things we think, say or do, is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it build goodwill and better friendships? Will it be beneficial to all concerned?
Contestants spoke on a range of topics including racism, sex education in schools, sexism, abortion and separation of church and state.
Cintron, a senior at St. Joseph High School, spoke convincingly and effortlessly about capital punishment in American society and the notion of redemption. She said she came up with the topic after seeing the film "Redemption."
"It was a biography of Tookie Williams, and it opened my eyes to capital punishment," said Cintron, who advocated against it. "This man, yes, he made some mistakes, but while in prison he was able to redeem himself, and he wrote books against violence and was even nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize."
Cintron said she was pleased to win the first prize, in which she was awarded a brand-new Toshiba laptop donated by Derivative Consulting Group, LLC, an EDC company. She said she had plans to study criminal psychology and political science at St. Leo University in Tampa, Florida.
"This experience was tremendous and it gave me a lot of confidence," she said.
Because of a tie in the points they were awarded, the second place winners were Lennox Brian Mark and Elisha Antoine. Both winners received a scholarship check for $500.
Antoine, a junior from St. Croix Central High School who spoke about ensuring that children were well disciplined, said he chose the topic because it was a problem that he has witnessed personally.
"This was a message that needs to get out to the people," he said.
Mark, a junior at St. Croix Educational Complex High School, gave a speech on the integrity of the public school system and the importance of the greater good. Planning for careers in politics, journalism and international law, he thanked Rotary Club Harborside for putting on the contest.
"This is a major asset to society to provide this opportunity," he said.
Third place and the scholarship prize of $300 went to Kirk Kendall Grant, also from St. Joseph High School. He said he did not know what to expect from the competition since the topic was so broad but was pleased at how he did.
President of Rotary Harborside Sonia Boyce said she was delighted with the success of the contest and expressed hope that this will continue as an annual event.
"I am astonished at the depth and research that went into these speeches. They all performed magnificently, and it took a lot of courage for each of them to go up there and make their presentations in a room full of strangers," Boyce said.
Other contestants were Shakyma Mercado and Garreesa Henry from Educational Complex; La’Tonya Nesbitt, Cashena Christian and Tuwanda Perez from Central High School; and Sami Asad from Good Hope School.
Judges were John Farrell from Rotary Harborside, Dorothy McIntosh from Rotary West, Assistant District Governor David Beck from Rotary St. Croix, attorney Maxwell McIntosh, and Kula Francis of the University of the Virgin Islands.
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