AHS Speech Earns 2022 All-State Honors

Students from Ames High School earned five Division 1 ratings for entries into the Iowa High School Speech Association (IHSSA) Large Group State Competition. On February 5 at Valley High School in West Des Moines, 19 students in grades 10-12 gave performances in Ensemble Acting, One-Act Play, Choral Reading, Reader’s Theater, and Musical Theater. Of those five groups, three were nominated as Outstanding Performers based on their state performances and selected to participate in the All-State Competition.

According to IHSSA, approximately 24,000 students started at the district competition level from over 347 schools. Only 113 schools and less than 1,800 students earned the right to be named as Outstanding Performers. 

AHS All-State groups included Ensemble Acting performing “My Little Monster,” Choral Reading performing “Students Against the Education System,” and One-Act Play performing “Jason Splits the Party.” All-State participants included Lauren Anderson, Robyn Bernard, Ember Biggs, Keilah Brewer, Geniya Collins, Madison DeLashmutt, Julia Divine, Libby Gens, Maya Hamad, Kenaiya James, David Lee, Andrea Medina, Olivia Reed, Jason Vernon, and Amelia Yoder. Students were coached by AHS language arts teachers Kate Engelkes and Chuck Ripley. 

Ripley, who has coached AHS speech for 12 years said, “The best part of coaching, for me, is when a student gains the confidence to be themselves. As great as their performances are, I love to see that boldness and strength allowing a student to share who they truly and authentically are with the world around them.”

The IHSSA Large Group All-State Festival was held February 19 at The Iowa State Center in Ames. Congratulations to all the AHS speech participants and coaches.