AUBURN — Three Saint Dominic Academy students finished first, second and third in the 2013 Modern Woodmen of America County/District Speech Contest held at the school’s Auburn campus on April 23. All three received trophies for their outstanding efforts.

The first-place winner, eighth-grader C.J. Jipson, also won a $50 award and the school will receive an engraved trophy to display. Two sisters, Maddy Leslie, a seventh-grade student, and fifth-grader Mia-Angelina Leslie, took home second- and third-place honors respectively.

Fourteen students from area schools competed in the contest after qualifying in local level competitions. The students delivered 3-5 minute speeches on this year’s topic, “A Person Who Has Overcome.”

C.J. and Maddy advanced to the state competition at Saint Dominic Academy. The winner of the state competition moves on to the national level.

The contest is one of many free youth educational programs that Modern Woodmen of America offers to schools.