Speak-Off Hosted for Local High School Students

The Inland Empire Resource Conservation District (IERCD) hosted their annual speak-off speech competition at the Frontier Project in Rancho Cucamonga on Nov. 1. The topic for this event is different each year; this year's prompt challenged participants to address ”How can RCD’s help address the increasing fuel load in California’s wild lands and the potential for catastrophic wildfire?” Students in grades 9-12 on campuses within IERCD District boundaries were eligible to participate through development and presentation of a 3-5 minute speech on the prompt. The top three finishers received cash prizes of $250, $150, and $100 respectively; however, all participants received a prize bag valued at $20. The first place winner, Valerie Kwee, from Eleanor Roosevelt High School, will go on to represent the IERCD at the Regional Meeting and State Speak-Off in Ventura. If she wins first place at the State Speak-Off she will win $1,000 in total. The second place winner is Jahmil Brown, who attends Arroyo Valley High School. The third place winner is Alejandra Guillen of Rialto High School. The IERCD is a public agency that provides preservation, restoration, education and outreach services to over 25 cities and unincorporated communities in San Bernardino and Riverside counties. The District operates under the guiding principle that the quality of the environment determines the corresponding quality of life, and works accordingly to improve local habitat sustainability for the benefit of all area dependent species. The Speak-Off is just one of the many events planned and/or participated in by District board and staff, in an effort to spread the message of the importance of conservation of natural resources.