MacKenzie Deeter, a senior at Soquel High School, recently won the Capitola-Aptos Rotary Club’s Youth Speech Contest ($200 prize)- Her five minute speech titled The Gift Lies Within was based on the Rotary International theme of the year Be a Gift to the World. Second place went to Elias Nepa ($100 prize) from Aptos High. Third place ($50 prize) went to Sara Pedro also from Aptos High.
Honorable Mention awards were given to Annie Nigh (Soquel), Galen Anderson (Aptos), Isabella Price (Aptos), and Will Murphy (Aptos).
MacKenzie will now participate in the Rotary Area 7 (Santa Cruz County) contest at noon on February 25 at the Seascape Golf Course. The winner will proceed to the regional contest with the possibility of winning the $1,000 first prize.