Adelaide Dixon, first place

Eleanor Kraft, second place

Adelaide Dixon, a student at Liberty Classical Academy in Hugo, was the first-place winner in the fourth biennial Speaking Proudly oratory competition, held November 8 at the Minnesota State Capitol.

The competitors’ speeches were based on the 2025 topic, “The Consent of the Governed” in America’s 250th Year.

For her speech titled “Consent With Purpose,” Adelaide received a trophy and $2,500 cash prize. She resides in River Falls, Wisconsin, and is the second student from her school to win the competition; Lili Imm took first place at Speaking Proudly 2021.

Earning the second-place trophy and $2,000 prize was Eleanor Kraft of Ham Lake, who attends Mother Seton Academy. She spoke on “Gerrymandering.”

The third-place winner, Christine Gao of Blaine, received a trophy and $1,500. She is a student at Zion Homeschool and spoke on “The Nature of the Governed.”

Emily Albrecht Geiger, director of education and outreach at Equal Rights Institute, was the guest speaker and master of ceremonies for the final round of competition in the Capitol Rotunda. A panel of noted Minnesotans served as judges.

Earlier in the day, all the competitors delivered their speeches three times, each time in a different location and before a different panel of judges. Also competing were:

• Maria Andrews of Ham Lake, Andrews Homeschool
• Anastacia Birkholz of Elko, Birkholz Homeschool
• Allison Carlin of Fosston, Fosston High School
• Kya Fanberg of Hugo, New Life Academy
• Rebecca Maas of Saint Paul, Chesterton Academy
• Hannah Markell of Dellwood, Liberty Classical Academy
• Maitreya Reeder of Minneapolis, Saint Anthony Village High School
• Gracia Severin of Brooklyn Park, Champlin Park High School
• Roslyn Stang of Saint Augusta, Kimball Area High School
• Lisa Vickers of Minneapolis, Vickers Home Academy
• Aurora Voigt of Avon, Kimball Area High School
• Christina Young of Rochester, Mayo High School

Speaking Proudly is open to girls in grades nine through twelve who reside in or attend school in Minnesota. The competition is a nonpartisan, nonprofit project of Metro Republican Women.

Meaghen McManus, 2019

Lili Imm, 2021