Perkins County’s Myles Bishop captured a state championship at the NSAA State Speech Championships 2026, earning first place in Class C2 extemporaneous speaking last week. Bishop, a senior at Perkins County rose to the top of a competitive field at the state meet, showcasing his ability to analyze current events and deliver a clear, organized response under time constraints — a hallmark of the extemporaneous speaking category. The NSAA state speech competition brings together top qualifiers from across Nebraska, with students advancing through district meets to earn a spot at the state level. In Class C2 extemporaneous speaking, Bishop secured the top finish ahead of finalists from schools across the state. His performance adds to a strong showing for Perkins County’s speech program and highlights the continued success of local students on the state stage. Extemporaneous speaking requires competitors to draw a prompt, prepare in a limited time frame, and present a well-structured speech on topics often tied to national and international issues. Judges evaluate students on content, organization, delivery and depth of analysis. Bishop’s championship finish marks a significant achievement for both himself, and the Perkins County Schools speech team, bringing home a state title and representing the community at the highest level of Nebraska high school competition. Congratulations Myles, we always knew you were destined for big things! - From the Grant Tribune News Staff