AMHERST – The 29th annual Wells Speaking Contest took place Tuesday, March 25, after having been postponed because of snow on its original date in February.

The audience was mesmerized by the talent of the 12 speakers, who had won several rounds to get to the final event.

Fifth-grade finalists memorized and presented picture book stories, with Braden Foulks winning with his animated rendition of “What Was I Scared Of?” the not-so-well-known Dr. Seuss story of a boy who befriends a pair of empty pants.

Other fifth-grade performers were:

Anna Goyette with “Hiding Hoover” by Elise Broach, in which children hide a pet from their parents.

Rachel Mazur with “Put Me in the Zoo,” the classic story by Robert Lopshire in which an imaginary animal with his many spots prefers the circus to the zoo.

Nick Giannokopoulos with “The Monster at the End of This Book” by John Stone, in which the main character fears turning to the last page of his book because he thinks he will find a monster.

Sixth-graders presented lively performances of their interpretations of myths, tales and legends.

Efmorfia Alton won with her theatrical retelling of the Greek myth “Persephone and Demeter,” in which Persephone becomes the queen of the Underworld for six months every year.

Also performing were:

Emma Richards performed the Greek myth “Pandora’s Box,” in which the curious Pandora opens the forbidden box, letting out disease, sickness, hate and envy, but also the gift of hope.

Sophia Mendola’s rendition of the Norwegian tale “The Three Billy Goats Gruff” entertained the audience with its story of the troll who tries to capture three billy goats.

“Two Wives,” an East Indian tale told by Alyssa Saunders, delighted the audience with its tale of a husband whose two wives compete for his favor by each wanting to have more strings of his hair, resulting in baldness for the poor man.

Seventh-graders write personal narratives that give the audience a glimpse into their thoughts and feelings.

Alana Hoskins won for her poised presentation of her personal narrative “Unconventional,” depicting her adventures at an Otaku, Japan, comic convention, where she ironically learned that it’s all right to be unconventional.

Other performers were:

Daria Dzen dazzled the audience with her narrative “Living in the Shadow of a Rainbow,” humorously explaining what it’s like living with her accomplished older brother and ending with the realization that she, too, is a rainbow soon to color our world.

The audience had many chuckles with Madie Morrissette’s “It’s All About Me, or Is It?” She recounted her thoughts about being the oldest child and the many chores and responsibilities she endures, such as pretending to like certain foods so her sister will eat them, helping with homework and watching her younger siblings experience activities at a younger age than she did.

David Moss told the poignant story “Jelly on Toast,” in which he compared the elderly to the benign breakfast of jelly on toast and of how he has learned to have respect for the life stories that “old people” have to give the younger generation from his attendance at a party for his great-aunt.

This narrative won him the Aaron Ebbert Award for excellence in public speaking.

Each year, the contest is the culmination of speaking units in classes at the school. It began 29 years ago when the Wells family, longtime residents of Amherst, approached the middle school with the idea of supporting a speaking competition in honor of their mother, a teacher, who believed that excellence in public speaking was essential to a good education.

It has become a wonderful tradition that students, families and townspeople look forward to each winter.