Three groups from Abraham Lincoln’s speech group students have been nominated to go to All-State Speech on Feb. 22 in Ames, Iowa. These talented students performing in TV news and radio broadcasting are sophomores Maxine Colgrove, Kinnick Driscoll, Eliot Powers, and senior Cain Pettit.
Powers said going to All-State all four years is what she’s hoping to accomplish.
“Looking into the future, I think I’d be amazing if we made it to All-State all four years, because that’s very hard and rare,” said Powers. “And that would just be something really amazing that we did.”
Colgrove cannot attend All-State due to a band event, but still hopes to take home the prized banner.
“Each category has one person who is deemed the best out of all of the performances, and they win a banner and they get to go on stage and you get to take the banner for the year. It’s always a really nice goal to have in mind and it would be insane if we won that,” said Colgrove. “I think this year my main goal is to use the comments we get just to make next year better, and just to keep improving no matter what, regardless if we get the banner or not.”
Driscoll said practice makes perfect to prepare for his speech.
“These categories are both pre-recorded so I prepared for filming this by reading and practicing script and facial cues once a day,” said Driscoll.
Cain Pettit, who is attending his first and last year at All-State, said he hopes to make an impression on future speech groups.
“I’m hoping that the next groups that come after mine can take what we have done as inspiration. I think it’d be cool to use us as an example,” said Pettit.
Co-Coach and English teacher Jane Hanigan said the three groups making All-State is an amazing achievement.
“Having three ALHS large-group events earn All-State distinction is an incredible achievement — it’s the most groups to be recognized from Abraham Lincoln in program history,” said Hanigan. “Our students will be the only school representing the Council Bluffs community, which likewise suggests the privilege to be an honor very few attain.”
Co-coach and teacher mentor Dirk Waller said he is looking forward to seeing some old friends.
“I’ve coached for 30 some years, so I get to see tons of my friends that are coaches from different parts of the state that I don’t get to see very often,” said Waller. “It’s a celebration atmosphere, so it’s fun. And then on the way home we always stop and eat at some cool place and we always try to pick something that they can’t get in Council Bluffs.”
Everyone is looking forward to a fun time at All-State, looking forward to feedback for next year, and to take home the banner.
