The 2nd Annual Ohio K-12 Chinese Essay and Speech Competition

Shasha Gibbs, Chinese Teacher, Medina High School

On Sunday, April 27, two students from Medina Senior High School placed in the Second Annual Ohio K-12 Chinese Essay and Speech Competition.  Senior Victoria Kilbane, third year Chinese student, won second place in the nine-twelve grade intermediate division.  The intermediate division encompasses students who have studied Chinese for less than 4 years. Sophomore Jayson Blankenship, second year Chinese student, won third place in the nine-twelve grade beginners division.   The beginners division encompasses students who have studied Chinese less than two years.

The event, hosted by the Confucius Institute at Cleveland State University and the Ohio Association of Teachers of Chinese, began with a letter of endorsement from Governor John Kasich and special thanks Cleveland State University for hosting the event. The participating students presented their prepared speeches titled “Chinese Language and Me.”  The competition concluded with the awards ceremony and a special Chinese traditional dance lesson to all participants. Awards for the essay competition will be awarded in the following weeks.