Several Area Students Earn All-State Individual Speech Nominations

High school speech students from KNIA/KRLS area schools recognized by Iowa High School Speech Association

Mar. 17, 2026 at 3:48am

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Several high school speech students from the KNIA/KRLS area earned the highest honor from the Iowa High School Speech Association, receiving All-State recognition following this past Saturday's state contest. Students from Pella Community, Pella Christian, Norwalk, Pleasantville 9th, PCM, Baxter, Colfax-Mingo, and Southeast Warren schools were among those recognized for their performances in a variety of speech categories.

Why it matters

Earning All-State recognition in high school speech competitions is a significant achievement, showcasing the exceptional talent and dedication of these students. Speech and debate programs play an important role in developing critical thinking, public speaking, and leadership skills that benefit students throughout their academic and professional careers.

The details

The All-State honorees from the KNIA/KRLS area schools competed in a range of speech categories, including Expository Address, Spontaneous Speaking, Prose, After Dinner Speaking, Public Address, Original Oratory, Radio News Announcing, Solo Musical Theatre, Improvisation, Poetry, Acting, Storytelling, and Literary Program. These students demonstrated excellence in their respective events, earning the highest individual accolades from the Iowa High School Speech Association.

  • The state speech contest took place this past Saturday.

The players

Pella Community

A high school in Pella, Iowa that had several students earn All-State recognition in individual speech events.

Pella Christian

A high school in Pella, Iowa that had two students earn All-State recognition in individual speech events.

Norwalk

A high school in Norwalk, Iowa that had two students earn All-State recognition in individual speech events.

Pleasantville 9th

A high school in Pleasantville, Iowa that had one student earn All-State recognition in an individual speech event.

PCM

A high school in Prairie City-Monroe, Iowa that had one student earn All-State recognition in an individual speech event.

Baxter

A high school in Baxter, Iowa that had one student earn All-State recognition in an individual speech event.

Colfax-Mingo

A high school in Colfax, Iowa that had one student earn All-State recognition in an individual speech event.

Southeast Warren

A high school in Southeast Warren, Iowa that had one student earn All-State recognition in an individual speech event.

Carlisle

A high school in Carlisle, Iowa that had one student earn All-State recognition in an individual speech event.

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What’s next

Full team results for each local school will be posted Tuesday morning.

The takeaway

The exceptional performance of these students in the Iowa High School Speech Association's state contest highlights the strength and dedication of speech and debate programs in the KNIA/KRLS area, nurturing the communication and leadership skills of local high schoolers.