June 17, 2019

News Release

For Immediate Release

EDITOR'S NOTE: Members of the media may contact the Rutgers 4‑H Youth Development Program by phone at 848-932-3597 or by email at nj4h@njaes.rutgers.edu.

4-H Members Capture Top Awards at State 4-H Public Speaking Contest

Seventeen (17) New Jersey 4‑H members received Outstanding Presentation Awards at the State 4‑H Public Presentations Contest held recently (June 8) at the Cook/Douglass Campus of Rutgers University in New Brunswick.

Over 125 4‑H members from throughout the state took part in this event, which offers qualified 4‑H members an advanced Public Speaking experience. To qualify for this State 4‑H Event, 4‑H members must be in the 8th–13th grade and have received an excellent rating at their County 4‑H Public Speaking Contest. Judging is done by educators, 4‑H volunteers, faculty and staff.

The 2019 Outstanding 4‑H Presenter Award winners include: Tyler Braunstein, Morris County; Minta Caune, Middlesex County; Jack Dabb, Hunterdon County; Lindsey Davis, Hunterdon County; Benjamin Fernandez, Somerset County; Victor Heras, Union County; Jacqueline LaChow, Monmouth County; Kailey Levinson, Bergen County; Abigail Malitsky, Camden County; Gabriel Montalvo, Passaic County; Kristin Osika, Morris County; Tanya Pulavarthi, Monmouth County; Adwaith Ramesh, Middlesex County; Brittany Smith, Warren County; Abha Thapar, Middlesex County; Will Walto, Somerset County; and Mollie Zimm, Hunterdon County.

"Public speaking is one of many life skills that 4‑H members learn, develop and enhance during their involvement in 4‑H club, county, state and national positive youth development experiences. 4‑H Alumni site public speaking as the most valuable skill gained while in 4‑H." says Jeannette Rea Keywood, State 4‑H Agent, Department of 4‑H Youth Development.

The 4‑H Youth Development Program is part of Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station Cooperative Extension, 4‑H educational programs are offered to all youth, grades K–13, on an age-appropriate basis, without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability, atypical hereditary cellular or blood trait, marital status, domestic partnership status, military service, veteran status, and any other category protected by law. For more information about the New Jersey 4‑H Program visit the 4‑H website at nj4h.rutgers.edu contact the State 4‑H office (848) 932-3700 or email nj4h@njaes.rutgers.edu.

###

Cooperating Agencies: Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and Boards of County Commissioners. Rutgers Cooperative Extension, a unit of the Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, is an qual opportunity program provider and employer.

Rutgers New Jersey 4-H Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station