Area high school students are putting their public speaking skills to the test today as they compete in the Iowa High School Speech Association’s State Large Group Contest.

Held at Pleasant Valley High School in Bettendorf, qualifying students from Washington, Mid-Prairie, Highland, Columbus, Keota, Lone Tree, Sigourney, WACO, and Winfield-Mt. Union will be participating in events ranging from choral reading, to musical theatre, to solo mime. Each group earned the chance to compete by receiving a Division 1 rating at their respective District Contest two weeks ago.

At stake today is an opportunity to qualify for the All-State Contest at Iowa State University in Ames on Saturday, February 17. To do that, students will need at least two Division 1 ratings from a panel of judges, plus a judge’s nomination. All-State qualifiers will be announced at 4 p.m. on Monday, February 5.