Southern Vermont College (SVC) recently hosted its eighth annual Sarnoff Speech Contest for seventh grade students at the Laumeister Art Center in Bennington. The contest is in honor of Dorothy Sarnoff, an influential image consultant, operatic soprano and music theatre actress, who specialized in helping others perfect the art of speaking well. Nineteen students entered the contest from four area schools. The first place winner was Braiden Pearson from the Mountain School at Winhall; second-place went to Charlotte Benjamin from Pine Cobble School in Williamstown, Mass., and third place went to Myles Lahue from Maple Street School in Manchester.