Today, seventh and eighth grade students from Pioneer and Garrison Middle Schools took the stage at Walla Walla Community College’s Performing Arts Theatre to present their original speeches during the biannual “Walla Walla Youth Speaks” event.

The program highlights students’ research and writing projects, developed over several weeks on topics of personal and social relevance. Each student crafted a short presentation inspired by the TED Talks format—showcasing their critical thinking, creativity, and communication skills before an audience of peers, families, and educators.

Special thanks to Garrison Middle School teacher Beth Clearman and Pioneer Middle School teacher Kate VanCleve for their outstanding work guiding and preparing students for this inspiring event.