Information provided by Thornton Fractional High School District 215
CALUMET CITY, Ill. (February 26, 2021) – Last weekend, Thornton Fractional North students Destinee Owens and Kayla Gilmore represented Thornton Fractional District 215 at the Illinois High School Association state speech tournament. The state tournament on February 19 and 20 was held virtually, as was the entire IHSA speech competition season.
Kayla Gilmore
Gilmore, a senior at TF North, qualified for the state competition in both the prose and poetry reading events and finished second in the state in poetry reading. Gilmore performed a program that combined excerpts from several poems on the topic of the “#SayHerName” campaign. The campaign centers on overlooked police violence against women of color. Gilmore finishes her high school career with 83 speech competition medals, setting a record at TF North.
Speech team coach Shaunwell Posley said, “It has been such a pleasure coaching Kayla and watching her grow as a speech competitor. She is exceptional.” Gilmore plans to further her education next fall but hasn’t yet made a final decision on where she will attend.
Destinee Owens
Owens, a sophomore, finished third in the state in dramatic interpretation. Her performance was an excerpt from the book “Rest in Power: The Enduring Life of Trayvon Martin” by Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin. After earning five medals her freshman year, Owens secured 28 medals during the 2020-2021 competition season and plans to return to compete with the TF North speech team next year.
“Incredibly gifted” women
TF North principal Brian Rucinski said, “In a year that has been full of so many obstacles, Kayla and Destinee’s dedication has given the entire school the opportunity to be proud and celebrate. I’m especially proud that Kayla and Destinee both chose pieces that took dead aim at injustices they face as young women of color.”
District 215 Superintendent Dr. Jones-Redmond added, “These young women are incredibly gifted and had a very dedicated coach. I could not be more proud of their accomplishments at the state competition.”
Recordings of Gilmore and Owens performing their pieces were included in TF North’s virtual celebration of Black History Month.
Related
- TF North students receive prestigious Posse Scholarships (February 5, 2021)
We have many really talented students in District 215. These two young ladies are an excellent example of the high quality people who are involved in excellent programs every day within the district. This happens all the time. But, our staff and students have really stepped up to keep these programs going during this very difficult time we have all been experiencing. Thanks to the Journal for highlighting their achievements.