Congratulations to the DPS students and schools who received awards at this year's Speak Up Whitfield competition!
Speak Up Whitfield Winners – DPS 2023
Elementary Winners
Brookwood
1st Place: “What About Plants” by Yahir Garcia
4th Place: “Thoughts About The Diet of Dinosaurs” by Lane Cantrell
7th Place: “Diversity” by Claudia Weaver
8th Place: “How Sports Impact On Your Life” by Amelia Porter
9th Place: “WNBA vs NBA Salaries” by Ava Jackson
Blueridge
6th Place: “Deforestation” by Chelsea Landa
10th Place: “Traditions” by Tomas Espitia, Daniel Nolasco Gaspar
Middle School Winners
Hammond Creek
2nd Place: “Socks with Sandals? Yay or Nay” by Lillian Bowers & Hayden Hall
8th Place: “Privacy from Parents” by: Leah Amos & Khloe Mead
Dalton Junior High
1st Place: “Vivir A La Altura” by Isabel Perez, Alondra Manzano
3rd Place: “Cha-Ching” by Lilyana Freeman Alfaro
4th Place: “Boys Don’t Cry” by Valeria Gregorio-Jimenez, Jason Hennon, Natalia Villalobos
6th Place: “Whitewashed” by Andrea Hernandez, Lizzie Reese
Honorable Mention: “Hear Me Out” by Presley Roberts
High School Winners
1st Place: “Changing Shells” by Navah Jordan (TDA)
3rd Place: “Hidden” by Gaby Ruelas (DJHS/TDA)
4th Place: “If Only You Stayed” by Emily Torres (TDA)
5th Place: “Student Workers” by Stephanie Gutierrez, Michelle Mercedes, Carlos Arevalo Vasquez (TDA)
6th Place: “See You Next Week” by Ariana Caxaj, Zack Arrieta (TDA)
7th Place: “Relationships” by Melinda Castro, Anthony Fuentes (TDA)
8th Place: “Being Black in America” by Jayonna Thomas, Salome Losada (DJHS/TDA)
9th Place: “Plus Size in a Skinny World” by Jailyn Ochoa, Gabrial Cochran (TDA)
10th Place: “Friendship” by Hannah Allgor, Sabrina Fiek (TDA)
Superlatives
“Best Current Topic” – Thea Maret, Georgia Claire Sanders, Marley Mae Barmore (DJHS) – for podcast “Our Flag”
“Creative Use of Script” – Andrea Najera, Joy Lin (DJHS) for podcast “Loss”
“The Advocate” – Kaylen Chitwood (DJHS) for podcast “Atypical”
La Gran Voz – Overall Top Award
“Empty Cup” – by Soraya McEuen (DJHS/TDA)
Overall School Award
1st Place: The Dalton Academy
2nd Place: Dalton Junior High School
4th Place: Hammond Creek Middle School