LINCOLN, Neb. (April 14, 2026) – Nebraska’s best high school orators take the stage for the “2026 NSAA Speech Championships: Best of the Best” at 2 p.m. CT, Sunday, April 26, on Nebraska Public Media.
Produced at Nebraska Public Media’s Ron Hull Studio in Lincoln, the local program showcases high school students performing their winning state championship speeches. It is hosted by Lincoln media personality D-Wayne Taylor, an MC, TV and radio host and former Nebraska High School speech champion.
Speech categories, titles, students, hometowns, class and coaches featured on the program include:
Oral Interpretation of Humorous Prose, “Sports Atheist,” Taven Borcher, Lewiston (Class D2), Coach: Angie Hunzeker
Oral Interpretation of Poetry, “Female Identity,” Graci Peterka, Maywood (Class D2), Coach: Shyanne Mickelsen
Extemporaneous Speaking, “The Nuclear Energy Power Shift,” Gary Hao, Millard West (Class A), Coach: Rachel VanEngen
Duet Acting, “Bros Before… The Rest of the World,” Braydon Hoesing, Rogan Hoesing, Wausa (Class D1), Coach: Sheila Hoesing
Entertainment Speaking, “Boys are Funnier Than Girls,” Sophia Spieker, Wayne (Class B), Coach: Dwaine Spieker
Unified Speech Exhibition, “The Andy Griffith Show,” Katie Hogancamp, Humphrey-Lindsay (Class C2), Coaches: Steph Hogancamp & Barbra Lovercheck
Oral Interpretation of Drama, “The Pagemaster,” Lathan Buesing, Mavrix Butterfield, Carter Kincheloe, Brant Miller, Carson Reiman, Gothenburg (Class C1), Coach: Kaitlyn Clark
Informative Speaking, “Pediophobia,” Makenna Devine, Boone Central (Class C1), Coach: Joel Sup
Program Oral Interpretation, “Motherhood Behind Bars,” Mahalet Kinde, Omaha Brownell Talbot (Class C1), Coach: Baylor Winters
Persuasive, “A Long Story Short,” Laura England, Papillion-La Vista South (Class A), Coach: Landon Hauge
Interpretation of Serious Prose, “Shine,” Jack Chavanu, York (Class B), Coach: Becky Stahr
The annual Nebraska School Activities Association event was held March 27-28 at Kearney High School and Horizon Middle School in Kearney and included students from Nebraska schools competing in classes A, B, C1, C2, D1 and D2.
“2026 NSAA Speech Championships: Best of the Best” can also be viewed at NebraskaPublicMedia.org and YouTube.
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