Seasonal giving and classroom learning blended seamlessly at MHS on Dec. 12 as Honors English 4 students presented a case for giving to the charity of their choice.
The Third Annual Honors English Charitable Outreach Project was more than just an academic lesson in public speaking; the winning presentation received nearly $1,000 toward their charity.
It was a perfect way to end the semester, English teacher Mark Landuyt said.
“Each year the most impactful thing other than the presentation is all the wonderful awareness the charities offer. Most students seek out someone from the organization or someone impacted by the organization. They speak to that pretty directly. It’s very cool to see authentic arguments for real audiences,” he said.
A panel of staff members and community leaders served as judges for the five presentations before choosing the winner: Senior Elle Dodge and Compassion International, which sponsors and supports children all over the world.
Elle didn’t have much public speaking experience before making her presentation. But she knew the topic so well, she overcame her lack of experience. Her family had given to the organization for years and had sponsored several children.
“My parents have been doing this for years. They currently sponsor two kids,” Elle said. “We never actually get to meet them, but we send them letters all the time. And they send us pictures. I was very excited to talk about something that is so close to me and my family.”
English teacher Maddie Licata said the presentation portion of the project was valuable for students working on academic skills, like rhetoric skills and public speaking. The charity portion was important to all of the students, whether or not their charity received funding, she said.
“That’s what it comes down to, charity and awareness and doing good deeds,” Licata said.
Besides Elle Dodge, students and their charities included: Mihika Odak (Michael Matters Foundation); Averie Parkins and Chloe Winkler (Chicago Coalition to End Homelessness); Jack Barzycki and Marco De La Cruz (Doctors Without Borders); and Matthew Gaughan, Xavier Hilgart and Joshua Bradley (St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital).