KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- A student speechmaker is headed to state competition with a story she hopes will make her a winner.

It's a story KMBC's Bev Chapman has been telling for 10 years.

Audrey Amor, 14, never met Larry Stewart, also known as Kansas City's Secret Santa, but she knows his story well.

Stewart is a Lee's Summit businessman who gave away $100 bills to strangers in need.

Stewart remained anonymous until November, when he decided to reveal his identity because he was battling cancer. He died in January.

Amor went to Stewart's memorial and turned his story into an award-winning speech.

"If half the people who wake up said, 'I want to do something like Larry,' maybe we'd be a lot better off," Amor said.

She won first place at her school, St. Thomas More, and won first place in the county competition. She will be one of eight students competing for a state title on Thursday.

In addition to writing a speech about Stewart, Amor also followed his example and gave a $1 bill to a stranger.

"It was so fun. It was just a dollar, but I think it meant a lot to the guy," Amor said.