Cardinal Student Competes in IHSSA All-State Festival

Cardinal's Speech team: Olivia Pluemer, Dayne Owings, Ajaah Cox and Zach Smith

Barbara Hays · posted March 26, 2023

Cardinal's Speech team had a great year! Students Olivia Pluemer, Dayne Owings, Ajaah Cox and Zach Smith competed in the Iowa High School Speech Association's Storytelling, Public Address, Radio Broadcasting, and Musical Theater contests, respectively.

Ajaah, Dayne, and Zach's performances earned them a trip to the State competition in Eldridge, Iowa. At State, Ajaah was then invited to the All-State Festival at the University of Northern Iowa. Her public address, "No More Colored Bathrooms," was so powerful that one of the judges cried! The speech is from the movie "Hidden Figures" when Mr. Harrison (the boss) criticizes team member Katherine for being away from her desk so much. Katherine explains why, which reveals the deep racism that exists at NASA. With Ajaah's self-authored introduction, the speech is about five minutes long.

Ajaah's All-State performance will be in the Lang Center at UNI on Monday, March 27. We are wishing her and her speech coaches, Barbara Hays and Sandra Marshall, the best of luck.