Ranney 5th and 6th Graders are Top Performers at Junior Forensics Festival

Congratulations to Lower and Middle School Forensics Team members on their extraordinary win at the Ranney-hosted Junior Forensics Festival – the first competition of its kind in the area created specifically for 5th and 6th grade performers. Held on Saturday, March 7, the Festival competitors included students from Ranney School, St. Jerome School, West Long Branch and St. Veronica School, Howell.

The event followed a festival format rather than a tournament-style event, allowing the entire audience to view all the performances on the RSPA Panther Hall stage, including the finalists. The performances were critiqued by a panel of prestigious judges representing local theaters and public speaking organizations, including the Count Basie Theater, Algonquin Arts Center, the New Jersey Repertory Company, Two River Theater and Actors’ Playground.

Kudos to the following Ranney students who took home awards:

Excellence in Forensics Arts (top honors):

5th Grade
Karl Brand and Katrina Triolo (Dramatic Pairs)
Nikhil Lakhani (Dramatic Interpretation)
Matthew Kumar (Humorous Interpretation)

6th Grade
Hailey Maher (Dramatic Interpretation)
Samantha Picard (Humorous Interpretation)

Commended Performance

5th Grade
Katies Vates and Elizabeth Rennie (Dramatic Pairs)
Sophia Jackman (Dramatic Interpretation)
Tessa Payer (Humorous Interpretation)

6th Grade
Vahak Hovnanian and Tej Seelamsetty (Dramatic Pairs)
Alexis Auletta (Humorous Interpretation)
Alex Shay (Dramatic Interpretation)

Honorable Mention

6th Grade
Sabrina Park and Jillian Villany (Dramatic Pairs)
Milan Genovese and Alexandra Natsis (Dramatic Pairs)

Not only did the Ranney students achieve great success during what, for many of them, was their first foray into formal competition, but the entire Festival was a triumph, due to the coordination of Middle School Assistant Principal and 6th grade coach Mrs. Nancy Wade, expert coaching of teachers Signora Jeanette Cordero and Madame Nancy Rosenthal, technical assistance from drama teacher John Doyle and support from numerous staff and volunteers.

All students performing at the festival received certificates of participation.

For additional information on all Ranney School news, please contact the Communications Department at communications@ranneyschool.org.