Five local high school students participated in the Falls Church Rotary Club’s speech contest on Feb. 27 at the Harvest Moon Restaurant. Each student presented an original speech on the topic “Engage Rotary, Change Lives.” First-place honors and a prize of $100 were given to Laura Chu of Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (back row, second from left).  Chu will advance to the area contest on March 18 to compete with the winners of other local area Rotary Club speech contests. Susanna Sewall, a home-schooled student, (front row, far left) placed second and earned $50. Tiffany Chong of George C. Marshall High School (front row, far right) placed third and earned $25. Catherine Irvin of Bishop O’Connell High School (front row, center) and Julia Rodriguez of Falls Church High School (back row, second from right) also participated in the contest. Contest participants are pictured above with Rotary contest coordinator Joe Scheibeler (back row, far left) and Rotary Club President Diane Hill (back row, far right).  (Photo: Courtesy Diane Hill)