CARROLLTON, GA — A Carrollton High School junior won first place in the Optimist Club of Carrollton Oratorical Contest last month.
Shad McMillan earned a $2,500 scholarship and now moves on to the regional competition.
Richard Bracknell, CHS competitive speech teacher, said he is proud of Shad for his accomplishment.
“Shad is truly dedicated to garnering as much as possible from his educational opportunities,” said Bracknell. “He is a natural leader — one who is warm, friendly, knowledgeable — but not boisterous. His warmth and charisma fills the room. Within days of coming into our program, he became a superstar. He is definitely the student every teacher wants.”
Shad said he is surprised he made it this far in the competition.
“I originally wrote the speech for my school’s Optimist Club. The topic changes each year but always includes the theme of optimism. I first presented the speech in front of my peers, then Mr. Bracknell selected me and a few other classmates to enter the contest. Before I knew it, one contest led to the next, and then to the next, and then to the next.”
Shad will head to St. Louis this summer, where the competition will be held. The regional competition is on July 20, and the world championship contest follows on July 21.
“This will be a major advancement from where I started and like nothing I’ve ever done before,” said Shad. “Mr. Bracknell and I are so excited for this opportunity.”
Carrollton High School junior Shad McMillan won first place in the Optimist Club of Carrollton’s Oratorical Contest. Pictured from left are Gerald Johnson, Bruce Peace, Dianna Johnson, Shad McMillian, Richard Bracknell and Kevin Bush.
