Gilroy
– When the LoPorto family gathers for dinner at night, more is
dished out than meat and potatoes.
Gilroy High School senior Tasha LoPorto, who describes herself
as the most liberal member of her family, doesn’t hesitate to take
a stand on issues that matter to her, whether her family wants to
hear it or not.
Gilroy – When the LoPorto family gathers for dinner at night, more is dished out than meat and potatoes.
Gilroy High School senior Tasha LoPorto, who describes herself as the most liberal member of her family, doesn’t hesitate to take a stand on issues that matter to her, whether her family wants to hear it or not.
“I’ll start talking about something and everyone will roll their eyes,” LoPorto said. “They know what’s coming.”
Occasionally annoying to her family, maybe, but LoPorto’s tenacity is one reason she’ll advance to a regional speech debate March 8 after winning the high school’s competition Tuesday.
The local speech contest, sponsored by the Gilroy Rotary Club, featured speeches by four GHS students on topics ranging from accepting gay, lesbian and transgender students to lessons learned from tsunami relief efforts. The students debated Tuesday in front of a number of Rotarians at the Gilroy Elks Lodge.
The four students were selected after competing in an initial speech debate at the high school a few weeks ago. Although some students can receive extra credit for participating in speech debate, LoPorto said most of them are involved simply because they enjoy debating.
Contestants were given 5 1/2 minutes each for their speeches, which are to reflect a theme and build on Rotary’s four-way test: whether actions and words are true, fair, build goodwill and are beneficial to all concerned.
This year’s theme was Century Builders Building Bridges, in commemoration of Rotary’s centennial anniversary officially celebrated today.
The regional debate in March will take place in Gilroy and will include students from Hollister, Morgan Hill and San Juan Bautista. LoPorto also won last year’s contest at the high school and yesterday took home $100 for her speech, which advocated environmental awareness. She challenged the Rotary to up its efforts to promote environmental conservation, such as initiating programs that encourage recycling, reduce pollution and decrease energy consumption.
Increased environmental awareness, LoPorto said, is a bridge that will connect the world and pave the way for future generations. An aspiring environmental lawyer, the GHS student said she’s eager to further the fight for environmental awareness and called upon others to do the same.
The material LoPorto learns in her Advanced Placement environmental science class sticks with her, she said, hence the conversations around the dinner table. One lesson she said her family didn’t particularly care to hear – especially while eating – involved the grade of meat used in typical fast food meals.
LoPorto said she plans to put the money toward the growing number of expenses she’ll incur next year at one of the several University of California sites she applied to.
First-runner up Debra Cheng won $50 for her speech on tolerance and understanding as the building blocks for the world. The GHS senior said she plans to major in biological sciences at California Polytechnic State University, one of four UCs she applied to or Stanford University, which she decided to try for on a whim.
“I thought, hey, why not?” she said.
Freshmen Philip Jacobs and Adrianna Zepeda won $25 each for their speeches.
Jacobs spoke of the bond forged across the world by tsunami relief efforts, which he said illustrated “all that is good in the human spirit.” Born in England, Jacobs moved to America five years ago and said he sees doing good work in America as his destiny. Earlier this year, Jacobs organized a fundraiser at the high school that raised several hundred dollars.
Zepeda’s speech focused on the Gay Student Alliance, a program that provides a place for gay, lesbian and transgender students to feel accepted and free to communicate openly. Zepeda said her future plans include applying to Princeton University and, someday, becoming president.
