Pompeii students erupt at speech contest, take first and second place

The citywide Modern Woodman of America Speech contest was hosted by the Manhattan Catholic Schools’ office at 475 Riverdale Ave. in the Bronx on March 2. Twelve contestants from grades 5 through 8 who had won speech contests, first in their own parochial schools and then in their districts, wowed an audience of teachers, principals and parents as they delivered speeches they had written on this year’s topic: “My State.” First place went to Gabriel Calleja of grade 6 at Our Lady of Pompeii School, left, and second place was awarded to Andrew Martin of grade 7, also a student at Our Lady of Pompeii, right.