The 2025 SDHSAA State Oral Interpretation Festival was held in Watertown on Friday and Saturday, December 5-6. Jefferson High School students delivered exceptional performances across a variety of categories, earning recognition for both individual talent and team excellence.
Superior Awards were presented to the following students:
Non-Original Oratory: Learys Mercado-Castello
Serious Reading: Edom Hiruy
Reader's Theatre: Edom Hiruy, Kai Rivera, Learys Mercado-Castello, Elise Klein, Kiera Chambers
Humorous Reading: Kai Rivera
Storytelling: Elise Klein
Duet Interpretation: Kai Rivera, Joel Merritt
Poetry: Edom Hiruy
In addition to these individual honors, the Jefferson team received a Team Excellence Award, recognizing their outstanding overall performance.
The festival celebrated students’ dedication to the art of oral interpretation, showcasing their ability to engage audiences through storytelling, dramatic reading, and performance.
Photos courtesy of SDPB.