8-Year-Old Awarded Village Citation For First Place Speech

GARDEN CITY, NY — A third grader was recognized with a Village citation for his first-place speech at the Frederick Douglass Oratorical Contest.

Eight-year-old Owen Galarza has placed in first for two years in a row. The Stratford Elementary student recited his speech in front of an audience at the historic site in Washington, D.C. in February.

Mayor Ed Finneran presented Galarza with the Village citation, which reads:

"The Village of Garden City is honored to recognize Owen Galarza for his commitment and hard work, and for inspiring family, friends, neighbors, and classmates.”

The contest is hosted by the National Park Service. Galarza chose a Douglass lecture called "Our Composite Nation."

"At first I was nervous, but then once I went through it, it felt really easy," Galarza said. "The second time I did it I had no pressure at all because I already knew that I could do it again once more."