Courtesy photo Participants in the 2017 Kaley Speech Contest at Milford High School on May 24 were, from left, front row, are judges Catherine Flynn and Elise DeMichael, runner-up Grace Bonner, winner Meagan McLean, third-place finisher Andrew McNeil, and judges Sandy Bucknam and Adriana Allen. Back row, contest coordinator Jean Locicero Shankle, student emcees Kaitlynn Morgan and Alice Danas, and class champions Shelby Houghton, Anika Strelow, Todd Bieschke, Dylan Haas, Olivia Wisbey, Aaron Leach, Blake Audibert, Florian Bochert, Sophia Smith and Mackenzie Mahony.

MILFORD – Meagan McLean won the 2017 Kaley Speech Contest at Milford High School with her topic, “Some Children Left Behind.”

The annual event for juniors brought together 13 class champions. Grace Bonner was runner-up with her topic “Starving” and Andrew McNeil was third with his topic “Gerrymandering.”

The three winners were awarded trophies and cash prizes of $100, $75 and $50.

Also participating were:

• Blake Audibert, “Driving in the Shadows.”

• Todd Bieschke, “The Arts in America.”

• Florian Bochert, “The Respectable Stranger.”

• Dylan Haas, “Milfoil in New Hampshire.”

• Shelby Houghton, “Unchangeable.”

• Aaron Leach, “Aging Democracy.”

• Mackenzie Mahony, “Social Media: A Toxic Mirror.”

• Sophia Smith, “Plastic Soup.”

• Anika Strelow, “Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds.”

• Olivia Wisbey, “True, or Just Trending?”

The contest coordinator is Jean Locicero Shankle. Judges were Adriana Allen, English teacher; Sandy Bucknam, managing editor of The Cabinet and The Telegraph; Elise DeMichael, public speaking specialist; and Catherine Flynn, Southern New Hampshire University. Ed Killam, business executive, also was scheduled to be a judge, but was unable to participate.

The contest is named after Frank Kaley, a Milford businessman who acquired the rank of colonel while on Gov. Moody Currier’s staff from 1885-87. He served as a legislator from 1893-97 and was a general on Gov. John McLane’s staff from 1905-07.

Upon his death in 1935, he bequeathed a trust fund of $5,000 to finance the annual speaking contest.