Based on the results of the fifth annual Tom Baldini Soapbox Challenge, our future is in good hands.

Ian Evans, a junior at Houghton High School, is the winner of this year’s event, which took place at Kaufman Auditorium on Monday.

The youth-driven civic engagement event called on students to speak out on issues that affect them and their communities.

Evans’ topic was “Equality and Acceptance,” with the student focusing on LGBT rights.

“It’s kind of unbelievable,” Evans said after his name was announced. “I didn’t think anything I had to say would get me anywhere.”

His win proved otherwise.

“I guess it did,” Evans said.

In his speech, he related his story of students who cut across his path, which caused the students behind him to stop. Unfortunately, he was called a derogatory name as a result.

“I wish I could say the ideas behind that language are few and far between, but they’re not,” Evans said. “These prejudices are nationwide and stem from the same lack of education and awareness, all while hurting and even killing real people.”

The event honors the legacy of the late Tom Baldini, a former educator at Marquette Area Public Schools and a longtime area politician and public servant who made an impact at the local, state and national levels. Baldini also was mayor of Marquette.

“He served in so many different capacities,” said Blythe Raikko, a teacher at Marquette Senior High School. “He was a civil servant who never wanted the spotlight on him.”

Monday’s event, she said, served to promote civil activism, problem-solving and making the world a better place.

“We’re living in a difficult time where there’s a lot of issues and a lot of problems,” Raikko said.

At the Soapbox Challenge, students addressed the question: “What is the most pressing issue facing young people today, why is it important and what should be done to address it?”

To qualify for the event, finalists were selected from over 500 competitors who researched, composed and delivered original speeches in the classes of Tiffany Nicholas, Kim Stadt, Aaron Lancour, Kris O’Connor and Raikko. Judges were community leaders who evaluated the content, delivery and style of the students’ original speeches, which were about 2 to 3 minutes long.

Schools represented in the Soapbox Challenge were Marquette Senior High School, Negaunee Middle School and Houghton High School.

Evans will visit Washington, D.C., in June for a three-day event that involves listening and presenting the soapbox speech, a civic showcase and meeting Congressional staffers to talk about the youth’s specific issues.

Priya Morey, who spoke about “Finding our Value,” won the student choice award. Other finalists and their topics were: Anna Rayhorn, “Gun Safety Laws”; Anna Melka, “Women’s Right to Choose”; Chloe Wommer, “Homophobia”; Jazzy Kuehnl, “Respectful Psychiatric Rehab”; Sara Neva, “Screen Addiction”; Kylie Johnson, “Reproductive Rights”; Shea Arney, “Mental Health in Teens”; and Lily Dixon, “Gun Control.”

We applaud the efforts of these students, who have done well in showing us that our local youth are absolutely brilliant. They have a great deal to be proud of, and we are certain that our local educators feel very gratified in witnessing the work these kids have put forth.