Special to the Herald

 

EFFINGHAM COUNTY – Project Achievement is a cornerstone in the Georgia 4-H program that teaches public speaking skills, interview skills, recordkeeping skills, social skills and self-confidence. To compete in this competition, 4-H members first pick a project area of interest to them and prepare a presentation for competition. As a partner in public education, Georgia 4-H Project Achievement serves as a forum to showcase a 4-H’ers hard work and success.

Effingham County fourth- through sixth-grade participants competed at Cloverleaf District Project Achievement in Candler County on March 16 after placing within the top three in the local 4-H Essay Contest.

Students then turned their essays into speeches and added the presentation component required for District Competition. Students in this age group must present a four- to six-minute demonstration with three posters or a slideshow and visual aids. This year, 31 students advanced to the District Level Competition:  Giovanna Ablakwa, Taegan Allen, Lily Aultman, Hadley Baumann, Zoe Brantley, Grayson Breda, Carly Campbell, Aiden Chapman, Tianna Coe, Aaron Collins, Izsabell Cross, Mackena Edwards, Sophia Gallant, Mia Henrick, Alicia Hubert, Emerson Jay, Amrutha Komanduri, Khloe LeBlanc, Molly Mason, Dylan Meng, Delilah Moye, Brooke Newland, Kenan Otieno, John Reinhart, Dakota Ruger, Kayden Saxon, Sarah Saxon, Meghan Snider, Kensley Washington, Leela Whitehead, and Kylie Worrell.

These 31 students represented Effingham County 4-H well among 271 competitors from 11 counties in the Southeast District. Out of our 31 competitors, Effingham County 4-H brought home 18 medals and had numerous honorable mentions.

While there is not an opportunity for advancement after the district competition at this level, we are so proud of our 4-Hers for taking advantage of this opportunity and gaining this experience so early on in their 4-H careers.

“DPA is an extremely valuable tool for fulfilling the Georgia 4-H Mission of “assisting youth in acquiring knowledge, developing life skills, and forming attitudes that will enable them to become self-directing, productive, and contributing citizens,” said Morgan Triplett, 4-H Agent of Effingham County Extension office in Springfield.

The UGA Extension 4-H Youth Development Program has helped thousands of Georgia youth learn by doing to make their best better. For more information about Effingham County 4-H programs, call 912-754-8040.