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Talking The Talk

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PRO D UC
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Groves High School Forensic team
named state champions.

ROBIN SCHWARTZ CONTRIBUTING WRITER

T

different events ranging from pre-
he gift of gab propelled
pared speeches to more impromptu
Paige Stearn, 17, of Beverly
remarks, where limited preparation
Hills and 40 teammates on
time is given. They also
the Groves High School
recited poetry and prose
forensic team to a state
ABOVE: Paige
and did dramatic interpreta-
championship, the first
Stearn (third from
time the school has held
left in the front row) tions. All events are timed
with members of
and performed under strict
the top title in 24 years.
the state champion rules and guidelines. The
The competition took
place at Eastern Michigan Groves High School pressure is intense and
forensic team.
Groves students rose to the
University April 28-29.
occasion.
While many people might
“Michigan Interscholastic
shake in their shoes at the
Forensic Association empowers stu-
thought of public speaking, these
dents to become proficient and ethi-
students thrive on stage and in the
cal communicators, critical thinkers,
spotlight.
lifelong learners, and leaders in a
“It feels amazing to stand up in
democratic society through inter-
front of the judges and to know I
scholastic speech, theater and debate
have worked so hard all year to do
this,” Paige says. “As nerve-racking as activities,” reads a press release from
it is, it’s more exciting than anything the high school. “We are proud of our
history, our heritage and our mem-
you can imagine.”
bers.”
Paige, an aspiring actress, com-
In the end, Groves students went
peted in the category “storytelling.”
In dramatic fashion, she told a story home with top honors and quite a
story to tell. In addition to the team’s
from the book The Library Dragon
big win, Paige was among students
by Carmen Agra Deedy. As the story
who were awarded individual honors.
goes, a dragon librarian named Ms.
She came in fourth-place in storytell-
Lotta Scales scares children away
ing. The teen plans to take all she has
and guards the books so they stay
clean. Eventually, a little girl changes learned from her time on the forensic
team and use it as she participates in
the dragon’s mind.
Carnegie Mellon’s pre-college sum-
“The thing about Paige is she
mer program starting in July.
owns the stage,” says proud mom,
Her acting credits to date include
Terri Stearn. “What impressed us
parts on episodes of Girls, Orange is
most was her ability, without any
the New Black and a few other shows.
costume change, to become various
characters in the story. For instance, No surprise, Paige’s future plans
involve a lot more time spent in front
when she is playing the dragon, she
of big crowds.
has her arms spread out flapping
“I plan to study musical theater
like wings of a dragon. When she
in college,” she says. “I want to work
plays Molly [another character in
in live theater, where I find the most
the story], she uses a child’s voice.
excitement on stage. It’s live and any-
These are things that got her into
thing can happen and it usually does.
the finals.”
On the stage performing is where I
During the statewide competi-
feel most at home.” •
tion, students participated in 14

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May 25 • 2017

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