Congratulations to second-grader JD Mize who recently won 1st place in the Bible memorization category at the ACSI Speech Meet at Prestonwood Academy in Plano!

At Brook Hill we want our students to try new things, broaden their understanding, and lean into their potential. One of the ways that we do this is by encouraging our students to participate in academic competitions. We understand that each student is unique and want to do everything we can as a school to develop their gifts and talents as they grow.

In preparation for the ACSI Speech Meet, JD memorized James 1:22-25 NIV to recite for competition. He also had the opportunity to share a sentence explaining what the verse meant to him. Before advancing to the finals at Prestonwood, he first had the opportunity to compete against his classmates at Brook Hill. After he won the initial classroom round, he competed against the other students from his grade in the Bible memorization category before advancing to finals. With each opportunity to compete JD grew in confidence as he shared!

There were over 400 contestants from dozens of schools, grades 1st-6th competing in categories like poetry and Bible memorization. JD competed against 34 fellow 2nd-graders in his category.

We hope that by encouraging our students to participate in events like this, and by providing them opportunities to speak at chapel, or in front of their peers for class projects we’re equipping them with the skills to be confident, articulate communicators! Our hope is that moments like this ignite a dream to be a pastor, a professor, a news anchor, or perhaps a politician.

We’re proud of each student that competed and give a big congratulations to JD for his blue ribbon win!