Isaiah Gosiengfiao, a freshman at Kimball High School, will represent the Tracy Rotary Club in the District 5220 speech contest.
He was chosen as the best among three Kimball High students who competed in the service club’s annual speech contest Tuesday, Feb. 21, at the Platinum Conference Center.
Runners-up in the contest were Geneva Clark, a senior, and sophomore Kimberly Diaz.
In his speech on Rotary International’s 2011-12 theme, “Reach Within to Embrace Humanity,” Gosiengfiao cited examples of Mohandas Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. reaching within themselves to lead nonviolent actions to achieve humanitarian goals.
He noted that local Rotary clubs and Rotary International also “embrace humanity” by sponsoring worldwide programs to eliminate polio, develop safe water supplies and promote education.
Gosiengfiao will represent the Tracy Rotary Club in District 5220 area competition March 10 in the Tracy City Council chambers, according to Ben Goldberg, club speech contest chairman.
All three student speakers received cash prizes.
Captain honored for community work
Capt. John Espinoza of the Tracy Police Department was honored at the Tuesday, Feb. 21, City Council meeting by the South Side Community Organization for his contributions and service as a volunteer.
Several community members stepped forward to praise the work Espinoza does both on- and off-duty in Tracy, calling him “a pillar of our community.”
Walter Gouveia, the Chamber of Commerce Male Citizen of 2011 and South Side Community Organization member, said Espinoza provides valuable leadership and information to that group and others around Tracy.
“(He is) a good role model and leader of the community,” Gouveia said.
Receiving a plaque from the nonprofit that runs the Guadalupe Center, Espinoza thanked his family, who attended the meeting.
“I have to give away the credit to my wife and kids, who are all here,” he said, adding that there are people throughout the city who dedicate their time and money to others. “Many (people) in this city do a lot of good work for the community.”
• Accolades runs in Our Town whenever we hear about someone who has done something great and deserves kudos for it. Send news for Accolades to tpourtown@tracypress.com.
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