Grade 8 Capstone Project Spotlights Global Human Rights Issues

The Declamation Project has been part of the Grade 8 history curriculum for over 10 years and gives students the opportunity to take what they have learned in class about human rights issues and develop a deeper sense of global awareness while advocating for topics that are meaningful to them. 

Throughout the year, the students learn about human rights and a myriad of global issues in class with Mr. Sokoloff and Mr. Kohler. All eight-grade students are required to give a declamation speech on a topic of their choosing. Once a topic is selected, students work with Mr. Sokoloff and Mr. Kohler on additional research along with effective speech writing and public speaking techniques before presenting to a series of judges. The top eight finalists are selected for the final round.

The student finalists included Max Alexander, Hannah Colas, Gwen Douthat, Ivan Gil, Mika Goren-Eisenberg, Kinan Harb, Amelia LeSieur, and Rick Li. Five faculty members served as judges including Upper School English teacher Moira Cassell, Upper School history teacher Evan Bieder, English Department Chair and teacher Paul Gustafson, Learning Support Coordinator Lisa Motter, and Upper School Academic Dean Justine Fellows.

The winners of the 2025 Declamation Project were Gwen Douthat in first place with her speech on social media and its negative effects on mental health; Hannah Colas in second place with her speech on freedom of speech, its laws and rules, and online censorship; and Max Alexander in third place with his speech on manual labor and the corruption of the government in the Congo.

“We would like to congratulate everyone on a successful year and wildly engaging declamation speeches,” said Mr. Sokoloff and Mr. Kohler. “The eight speakers on the stage did an awesome job and we could not be more proud of their efforts to share their passionate speeches with the school. We hope that it serves as the kind of spark for encouraging you to extend yourselves as you transition into the Upper School where so many more opportunities to self-actualize await.”