- March 30, 2026
The Flagler County School District's 4-H Public Speaking Contest winners — Lucy David (fourth grade) and Leon Krawczyk (fifth grade) — with Teaching and Learning Specialist Kristin Frank (left) and 4-H Extension Agent Hope Musgrove (right), the program's coordinator, pose with Flagler County School Board members and Assistant Superintendent Angela O'Brien (back row, left). Courtesy photo, Flagler Schools
Old Kings Elementary School fifth grader Leon Krawczyk delivers his winning speech, “Leon for President,” at the March 24 Flagler County School Board meeting. Courtesy photo, Flagler Schools
Old Kings Elementary School fourth grader Lucy David delivers her winning speech, “Wildlife Veterinarian,” at the March 24 Flagler County School Board meeting. Courtesy photo, Flagler Schools
Old Kings Elementary School fourth grader Lucy David wants to be a wildlife veterinarian when she grows up. Old Kings Elementary fifth grader Leon Krawczyk wants to be president.
Lucy and Leon won the Flagler County School District’s 4H Public Speaking Contest for fourth and fifth graders on Feb. 25 at the Palm Coast Community Center. They recited their winning speeches at the March 24 Flagler School Board meeting.
“These students competed against their class and then against all classroom winners at their school to make it to the district competition,” said Kristin Frank, Flagler Schools’ teaching and learning specialist for English Language Arts, K-5. “Their speeches are scored on both composition, including elements like hooking the audience and elevating their topic with strong vocabulary, and presentation skills like speaking speed, voice inflection and eye contact with the audience.”
Flagler Schools has participated in the 4H Public Speaking Contest for over 15 years, Frank said. The contest is currently sponsored by FPL.
Lucy spoke about her career aspiration in her speech, “Wildlife Veterinarian.”
“As far back as I can remember, I've always loved animals,” Lucy said in her speech. “If I can spend time with them and help them when they are sick or injured, it would make me happy every day. A wildlife vet takes care of animals like lions, snakes, tigers, turtles, penguins, monkeys, giraffes and more. Many of them are not the type to sit still for an appointment, so this job can be challenging, but never boring. One day I might be helping a penguin, and the next day I might be telling a monkey to stop stealing my lunch. … Wild animals can get hurt by cars, pollution, fires or by destroying their homes. … Being a wildlife vet is an important job, because they help make sure that animals don't go extinct. Without these vets, the world would be a much quieter and less interesting place. And zoos would be very awkwardly empty.”
Lucy went on to say that she was inspired by her great uncle who was an animal trainer at SeaWorld and also traveled the world helping rehabilitate animals and releasing them back in the wild.
Leon sounded like the politician he aspires to be in his speech, “Leon for President.”
If I become president, I promise longer weekends. Friday will be optional, but you will get some rewards for coming to school. Monday will be canceled and Wednesday will be called Fun Day.
— LEON KRAWCZYK, fifth grade public speaking winner
“Today I'm running for the presidency,” he said. “Why? Because I believe this country needs more fun, more snacks and a lot less homework. First of all, if I become president, I promise longer weekends. Friday will be optional, but you will get some rewards for coming to school. Monday will be canceled and Wednesday will be called Fun Day. Second, the teachers, all teachers, must get a 500% rate. We'll also include a private lounge filled with coffee machines, donuts and treadmills.
“Kids, let me ask you a question. Have you ever tried school lunch? Well, imagine it being a five-star meal with anything you can imagine. All the kids will have Ice Cream Tuesday. ... I have not forgotten about our wonderful parents. For all moms I’ll reward them for their hard work, I'll give each mom a car … while the dads will get a $100 gift card to buy their wives anything they want, because, as they say, ‘Happy wife, happy life.’ Let's not forget about education. As your president, I will make a new law for every book that you will read, you will get a free donut. Yum, donuts. As president, I will also fix important problems. For example, why do socks disappear in the washing machine? I will find them, I'll bring them home, and I'll make sure each sock has a best friend again. And finally, I promise to listen to the people, especially kids, because kids know what really matters: fun, kindness and snacks.”
