For Immediate Release:

April 28, 2014

Local 4-H members qualify for state competition

Invited to compete in 2014 State 4-H Public Presentations Program

“These students have worked very hard on their presentations and it is great to see so many qualify to move on to the state competition,” said Freeholder Director Lillian G. Burry. “Students in grades 8 to 13 who received an excellent designation can move on to compete at the state level in June at Rutgers.”

The students that qualified to move on to the state competition are Joshua Antures of Tinton Falls, Sarah Bond of Marlboro, Jamie Bresnaheua and Kymora Clarke of Freehold, Jillian Haliskoe of Middletown, Lexi Heon of Monmouth Beach, Jack Li of Ocean, Nick Nichol of Howell, Cole Raymond of Middletown, Linette Reeman of Lincroft, Kristen Sequeira of Ocean, Erica Todd and Joshua Todd of Jackson, Taylor Toris of Hazlet, McKayla Tyrrell, Andrew Valdes and Alona Zunger of Freehold.

Thirty-two 4-H members representing over 15 clubs participated in the County competition, giving oral presentations on a variety of subject areas from “The Effects of Deforestation” to “What You Should Know before the Vet Arrives.”

To qualify for the County presentations, each participant had to be a registered 4-H member in grades K through 13 and have done a presentation at the club level.  Fourth grader, Heather Grace McLoughlin and sixth grader, Emily Bennett, gave a team presentation on “Rabbit Facts.” 

“I had a whole lot of fun practicing with my friend Emily to do our rabbit skit,” said Heather Grace McLoughlin.

The following 4-H members, listed by towns, gave outstanding presentations and were recognize for their accomplishments: Aubrey Chesna, Zahra Clarke, Shawn Hill, Brandon Kayser, Alyssa Marks of Freehold; Daisy Brown of Heightstown; Daniel Moore and Rachel Moore of Manalapan; Emily Bennett, Caitlin Lanigan, Colleen McLoughlin and Heather Grace McLoughlin of Middletown; Angelo Kayser-Browne of North Brunswick; Carla Rios of Port Monmouth and Ethan Balczarek of Tinton Falls.

4-H Alumni credit these presentations and their club work for allowing them to take away strong public speaking skills which continue to benefit them throughout their lives. 
 “I have seen the positive impact these presentations have had on my two daughters.  They gained strong self-confidence and the ability to speak comfortably with both individuals and large groups.  It has served them well in their college and professional careers,” said volunteer judge Isabel Shaw. 

The volunteer judges were Stella and Debra Almeida, John Connors, Sue Fertig, Evelyn Gaffney, Joan Lynch, Bob Nicholas, Hope Raymond, Sarah Sakowski, Isabel Shaw, Ellen Simonetti, and JoAnna Tumminello.

The event provides an opportunity for 4-H’ers to compete on the county level with other members from a variety of clubs.  The presentations were judged by teams of 4-H volunteers, alumni, educators and Master Gardeners, as audience members watched.  Each participant received an excellent, very good, good or Cloverbud ribbon. 

The 4-H Youth Development Program is part of Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station -Cooperative Extension, 4-H educational programs are offered to all youth, grades K-13, on an age-appropriate basis, without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability, atypical hereditary cellular or blood trait, marital status, domestic partnership status, military service, veteran status, and any other category protected by law.

For more information about the Monmouth County 4-H Program call the 4-H Office at
732-431-7260 x7264 or visit the 4-H website at http://nj4h.rutgers.edu.

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