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2024 Summer High School Speech Competition
Join Us in Shaping the Voices of Tomorrow!

2024 Summer High School Speech Competition

 

We are proud to announce our 2024 Summer High School Speech Competition, inspired by the engaging format of TED Talks. This exciting opportunity allows high school students to showcase their speaking talents, share their innovative ideas, and compete for prestigious awards.

Contest Details:

 

Eligibility: High School Students (grade 9-11)

 

Contest Format: Two Rounds

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  • First Round: Please email a share link (e.g., via iCloud or Google Drive) for your speech video and send a copy of your student ID to info@leaderny.org by July 7, 2024. Speeches should be 5-7 minutes long. The top 10 contestants will be selected and notified by July 21st.

  • Final Round: The date for the final competition in New York is tentatively set for August 10th, 2024.

 

Awards:

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  • Finalists Awards: 1st place: $500, 2nd place: $300, 3rd place: $200.

  • Special Awards: Best Courage Award: $200, Best Humor Award: $200, and Best Creativity Award: $200

  • All participants will receive a New York Youth Roundtable certificate.

 

The first 20 registrants will receive a $100 gift card. All participants will have the opportunity for speech training.

Topics:

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Contestants are to pick one of the following topics for their speech:

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  1. If you were not a human, what organism would you be and why?

  2. What's your biggest gripe with school and how could it be improved?

  3. What are you most passionate about and why?

  4. How does the world just keep on spinning despite all the challenges we face?

  5. What's something that you do differently from most people and why do you choose to do it this way?

  6. What's your biggest pet peeve and why does it bother you so much?

  7. Which number do you think is the best and why?

  8. ___ is overrated because….

  9. Would you prefer gold or silver and why?

  10. If you could eat one element without any of the negative effects, which would it be and what would you do with that power?

  11. Why do we make such a fuss about ___ anyway when there are more important issues to focus on?


Speech Evaluation Standards:

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Judges will consider the following criteria, with a total of 100 points possible:

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  • Text Alone (30 points): Originality, adherence to topic, evidence support, and clear conclusion.

  • Delivery Alone (60 points): Emphasis, voice control, enunciation, and presentation skills.

  • Overall Effectiveness (10 points): Cohesiveness, organization, and persuasiveness of the speech.

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Note: The speech contest will be conducted without PPT presentations

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Co-hosted by 

 

  • New York Youth Roundtable

  • International Leadership Foundation

  • Chinese American Youth Civil Service

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How To Apply

  1. Submit the Application Form below

  2. Please email a share link (e.g., via iCloud or Google Drive) for your speech video and send a copy of your student ID to info@leaderny.org by July 7, 2024

(Ensure your submission includes your full name, school, and chosen topic)

Apply Here
Choose your topic

Thanks for applying! Please email a share link (e.g., via iCloud or Google Drive) for your speech video and send a copy of your student ID to info@leaderny.org by July 7, 2024.

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