Storm Lake student Eden Etse places fourth nationally in speech contest

Storm Lake High School student Eden Etse finished fourth nationally in Prepared Speaking at the Jobs for America’s Graduates National Career Development Conference, a result that put a Buena Vista County student among the top competitors in a field of more than 700 students from 32 states.

The conference was held in Salt Lake City, Utah, April 19-21. In Prepared Speaking, students write and deliver an original speech, so Etse’s finish reflected more than memorization. It showed skill in organizing ideas, presenting clearly and performing under pressure, the kind of communication ability that carries well beyond the classroom and into interviews, workplace presentations and civic life.

Etse advanced to the national event through Iowa Jobs for America’s Graduates, known as iJAG, which partners with Iowa schools to provide career development programming that includes leadership training, career education, individualized guidance and employer engagement. More than 20 Iowa students made the trip to Salt Lake City, and iJAG said its students represented schools across the state while showcasing leadership, career readiness and professional skills on a national stage.

The Iowa delegation posted strong results overall. iJAG said students from the state finished in the top 10 in eight of the 10 competitive categories, underscoring the depth of the program’s preparation and the level of competition Etse faced. JAG describes the National Career Development Conference as its pinnacle experience for youth to demonstrate skills, explore career options, connect with employers and create pathways for their future.

For Storm Lake, Etse’s fourth-place finish is more than a personal milestone. It is another example of a local student competing well beyond county lines in a national setting built around workforce readiness, public speaking and professional confidence. Storm Lake High School also sent a student to the 2025 national NCDC in Indianapolis, giving the school back-to-back representation at the event.

iJAG serves more than 11,000 Iowa students in grades 7 through 12, and Etse’s result gives that pipeline a local face. In a county where students often build their futures close to home, her finish showed that the same skills developed in Storm Lake can hold up on a national stage.