By Morgan Mizell

NATCHEZ — There is a saying, “practice makes perfect,” and for 14-year-old Damira McGruder, it could not be truer.

McGruder, a three-year veteran of the General Missionary Baptist State Convention Oratorical Contest, brought home the first-place prize for her submission in the contest this year in Jackson on Tuesday.

This was McGruder’s fourth time to compete.

“I placed third my first time and second the next two times,” McGruder said. “This time, I worked even harder, and placed first.”

Each year, young people from around the state participate in the contest, which is designed to help them prepare for future public speaking. Every year, the topic is a different Christian message that includes a Bible verse.

“This year our topic was about making disciples for Christ,” McGruder said. “The verse was Matthew 16: 24-26.”

Her previous experiences helped McGruder prepare for this competition, and her mother, Dr. Terri McGruder, a former English teacher and current principal at Tensas Elementary School, worked tirelessly to ensure her daughter was ready.

“Get ready, be ready, stay ready,” Dr. McGruder said. “We practiced every day on stage decorum, body movement, eye contact, enunciation, timing and emphasis.”

Each contestant receives a rubric to inform them of the different criteria on which they will be judged during the competition. Ten areas, worth ten points each, are critiqued during each speech. There are as follows: scriptural application, content, sticking to the subject, organization, clarity of speech, memorization, expression, delivery, stage decorum, and two minutes time limit.

“If she fumbled her words or lost stage presence, we would start over,” Dr. McGruder said. “She did very well, and I am excited for her.”

The contest is broken down into three age-groups: 10-12 year olds, 13-15 year olds, and 16-18 year olds.

“The contestants wear numbers, so you know when it is your turn to go,” McGruder said. “They hold up a green card for the next person to start. I got a little nervous when my turn got closer, but I said a prayer and began my speech.”

McGruder felt confidant in her speech and her presentation, but was still a little shocked when her number was called.

“I was happy when I heard my number called,” McGruder said. “There were other good speeches and orators there, but I was happy to win.”

McGruder will begin 9th grade this year at Cathedral High School. She believes this competition and others like it help students prepare for college and also has a real-world application.

“My brother Darius attends Alcorn State University, and he has to take courses on public speaking. I think I am well prepared for that,” McGruder said. “Also, if you look at athletes on television who have won a game, and they are being interviewed at a press conference, you will see how important public speaking can be.”

McGruder has plans for her future, but they don’t directly involve her skill for public speaking.

“I want to be an obstetrician,” McGruder said. “I plan to attend Mississippi State University and study Biochemical Engineering, and then I will apply to Harvard Medical School. But, I don’t plan to completely give up public speaking because I think it is a God-given gift, and if I do not use it, I may lose it.”

McGruder is an active teen who participates in all aspects of her church and community. She is heavily involved in Sunday school, praise dance team, choir, and the performing arts ministry at Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church. Her public speaking ability has made her a regular invitee to various programs around the Miss-Lou. She is also an active volunteer in her community at the Stewpot and various nursing homes. She does all of this while maintaining a 4.0 GPA.

“I know the whole church family is proud of her, including our pastor, Melvin White,” Dr. McGruder said. “There is a chance she will be able to compete on a national level because she won first place at state, but we are just waiting and praying about that.”

McGruder believes other kids should participate in events like this because it great preparation for their future.

“She was deserving of this award,” Dr. McGruder said. “I am not saying others were not as deserving, but she worked so hard. It was nice to see her hard work pay off in the end. Her father Ricky and I are so proud of her.”