Rattan Speech Team shows out this weekend......WE ARE PROUD OF YOU!!!!
From Mr. Smallwood:
Words are insufficient to express how grateful I am to all of you who supported our speech team in their appearance in the OSSAA Speech and Debate Tournament held April 17-18 on the campus of Southern Nazarene University in Bethany, Ok. Many of you donated to the gift bags that kept our kids in snacks as they faced a grueling two days of rigorous competition. Some of you fed our kids at regionals and at state. It means the world to have this kind of help. I especially want to thank Whitney and Terrell Hatcher who go above and beyond to provide support-financial, emotional, and material-as we try to help these outstanding youngsters navigate these incredible opportunities. Additionally, I must also shout out to Gracie Sam who judged, coached, chaperoned and in general also provided emotional support to the old coach who sometimes got overwhelmed! You are an amazing young woman. And thank you Zayda Penner for judging two days at state - you are incredible! You drove at your own expense from Norman to generously give your time to help your Alma Mater at state. There are also donors who may choose to remain anonymous but your support made it possible to provide for our students. Peyton Hatcher, Braden DeShiell, Melanie Segura, and Kaleb Mason you represented Rattan admirably with Peyton, Melanie, and Braden advancing to the podium . Peyton medaled third in Standard Oratory and fifth in Dramatic Interp, Melanie medaled seventh in Dramatic Interp, and Braden DeShiell medaled sixth in Original Oratory. This group in combined with teammates Cameron Hammons, Silas Aguirre, and Caden Lohrman had an overall grade point average of 3.875 that earned Rattan the OSSAA Distinguished Academic Achievement Award in Class 3A. While one group was at state, Cameron Hammons and Silas Aguirre were representing us at the Oklahoma-Arkansas, Texas Rotary District 4-Way Speech contest in Mt. Pleasant, Texas. Cameron placed first and was awarded $1500.00 first prize! Caden Lohrman was exercising his communication skills as page for State Representative JJ Humphrey at the state capitol! We were 100% engaged and involved as a team and scholastic entity. This old man is proud and happy that his kids are shining like the brilliant stars he knows them to be!! Oh yeah, The Oklahoma Speech and Debate Educator of the Year came home to Rattan as well. 
! My cup is full! Thank you all!!
