Frederick D. Thomas Middle School 7th Graders Inspire with Civil Rights Park Speech Showcase at Lewes Historical Society

In a powerful display of research, writing, and public speaking, seventh grade students from Frederick D. Thomas Middle School recently brought history to life during a special event hosted at the Lewes Historical Society. Inspired by a class project of a fictional Civil Rights Park in Lewes, students were challenged to make the case for which a prominent civil rights figure should be the first honored in this imagined space.

Over the past several weeks, students dove deep into the Civil Rights era as part of their ELA curriculum, selecting historical figures, crafting persuasive arguments, and refining speeches designed to convince a panel, dubbed the “Board of Lewes,” to select their nominee as the inaugural honoree of the park.

“The culmination of the project was a a live presentation by the top 12 student finalists, who delivered their speeches to a packed room of peers, families, educators, and community members,” said Casey VanDemark, ELA Teacher at Frederick D. Thomas Middle School. “Each student showcased not only a deep understanding of their chosen figure’s legacy, but also strong rhetorical skills and passionate advocacy.”

Guests participated by scanning a QR code and voting for their favorite speech using an online form, effectively playing the role of the decision-making board. “We knew it would be incredibly difficult to choose a winning presentation,” said Dr. Alison Herman, ELA Teacher at Frederick D. Thomas Middle School. “We’re grateful to the attendees for helping us out, and the votes were close! Congratulations to Ryan Jennings, who defended Coretta Scott King, and earned first place. Erin Mayo and Harper Griffin were second and third respectively. Erin also defended Coretta Scott King and Harper made her case for Emmett Till. All our finalists did an incredible job!”

This event not only reinforced essential academic skills, but it also encouraged civic engagement, public speaking, and historical appreciation in a meaningful and memorable way.

Frederick D. Thomas Middle School extends its gratitude to the Lewes Historical Society, and their Director of Education, Marcos Salaverria for hosting the event, and to all who attended and supported the students. Events like these remind us that even imagined spaces can spark real learning and lasting impact.