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March 22, 2023
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Project Soapbox ChallengeReto del Proyecto Soapbox

  • City of Aurora Mayor, Richard C. Irvin
  • Bolingbrook Mayor, Mary Alexander-Basta
  • City of Aurora Mayor Richard C. Irvin, East Aurora High School Division Chair for World Cultures Kelly Henkel, Congressman Bill Foster, Plainfield East Teacher Dan Vergo, Bolingbrook Mayor Mary Alexander-Basta, and North Aurora Village President Mark Gaffino
  • First place winner from East Aurora High School, Grace Alcalde
  • From left to right: Ana Badon from Plainfield East High School took second place, EAHS first place winner Grace Alcalde, and Javiana Amado took home the student choice award
  • The eight finalists of the Soapbox Challenge

East Aurora High School students participated in the Mikva Soapbox Speech Challenge on Tuesday, March 21, preparing and delivering a series of civic speech presentations.

Over seventy students from Plainfield East, West Aurora and East Aurora High School’s competed in this one-day event. The Mikva Challenge encourages students to find their voice on issues that affect them and their communities and prepares them to be informed citizens and leaders by involving them in civic project-based learning.

East Aurora High School Division Chair for World Cultures, Kelly Henkel said that as part of the Illinois Civics Standards all students had to complete an assessment as part of their class. This challenge is a culmination of hundreds of government civics students across three high schools that were nominated to participate in the event.

Some of the speech topics included Gun Violence, Homelessness, Hate Crimes, Domestic Violence and Mental Health to name a few. All students were judged by a panel of judges that included School Board Members, City Alderman, and Retired Educators.

Congressman Bill Foster delivered opening remarks encouraging students to use their skills and knowledge to be impactful and to engage in the workings of democracy. Also addressing the students were City of Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin, Bolingbrook Mayor Mary Alexander-Basta and North Aurora Village President Mark Gaffino.

The competition ended with eight finalists delivering their speeches in front of their peers and judges. Plainfield East High School took home the student choice award as well as second place. East Aurora High School’s very own Grace Alcalde took first place whose speech centered on Women’s Health Care Access. Congratulations Grace and to all students that participated.

  • City of Aurora Mayor, Richard C. Irvin
  • Bolingbrook Mayor, Mary Alexander-Basta
  • City of Aurora Mayor Richard C. Irvin, East Aurora High School Division Chair for World Cultures Kelly Henkel, Congressman Bill Foster, Plainfield East Teacher Dan Vergo, Bolingbrook Mayor Mary Alexander-Basta, and North Aurora Village President Mark Gaffino
  • First place winner from East Aurora High School, Grace Alcalde
  • From left to right: Ana Badon from Plainfield East High School took second place, EAHS first place winner Grace Alcalde, and Javiana Amado took home the student choice award
  • The eight finalists of the Soapbox Challenge

Los estudiantes de la escuela East High participaron en el reto de Mikva Soapbox Speech Challenge el martes 21 de marzo, preparando y pronunciando una serie de presentaciones de discursos cívicos.

Más de setenta estudiantes de Plainfield East, West Aurora y East Aurora High School compitieron en este evento. El Reto Mikva anima a los estudiantes a encontrar su voz sobre cuestiones que les afectan a ellos y a sus comunidades y les prepara para ser ciudadanos informados y líderes, haciéndoles participar en un aprendizaje basado en proyectos cívicos.

El presidente de la División de Culturas Mundiales de East High School, Kelly Henkel, dijo que como parte de los Estándares Cívicos del estado de Illinois todos los estudiantes tenían que completar una evaluación como parte de su clase. Este reto es la culminación de cientos de estudiantes de educación sobre cívica del gobierno de tres institutos que fueron nominados para participar en el evento.

Algunos de los temas de los discursos fueron la violencia con armas, personas sin hogar, delitos de odio, violencia doméstica y salud mental, por nombrar algunos. Todos los estudiantes fueron evaluados por un jurado compuesto por miembros de la Junta de Educación, concejales y educadores jubilados.

El congresista Bill Foster hizo el discurso de apertura, animando a los estudiantes a utilizar sus capacidades y conocimientos para influir y participar en los procesos democráticos. También se dirigieron a los estudiantes el alcalde de la ciudad de Aurora, Richard Irvin, la alcaldesa de Bolingbrook, Mary Alexander-Basta, y el presidente del pueblo de North Aurora, Mark Gaffino.

El concurso concluyó con ocho finalistas que presentaron sus discursos ante sus compañeros y los jueces. Plainfield East High School se llevó a casa el premio a la elección de los estudiantes, además del segundo puesto. Grace Alcalde, de East Aurora High School, obtuvo el primer puesto con un discurso sobre el acceso a la atención médica para las mujeres. Felicidades Grace y a todos los estudiantes que participaron.
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