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VUHS Students Excel In Speech Competitions

photo provided Jacob Steponaitis, Winner local Veteran's of Foreign Wars Voice of Democracy Speech Contest Winner

photo provided Hannah DeGraaf, Winner local Rotary International Speech Contest

photo provided Jessy Sturtevant: Lions Club International Speech Contest winner

photo provided Nathan North, Winner local American Legion Oratorical Contest

Tuesday March 3, 2009

By Cookie Steponaitis

     We all remember great speeches and can even recall phrases from them. But, let’s be honest, how many of us want to write them and give one ourselves? We often think that some people are born to be great orators and possess a gift or talent that mere mortals can not ascribe to. These assumptions are far from the truth and if you are not certain, just ask the fifty Vergennes Union High School (VUHS) students grades 9-12 who during the past three months have competed in one or more speech competitions sponsored by local civic organizations. The VUHS speech competition season begins in early September and continues through April. The speech competition season involves written and oral competitions from the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Daughters of the American Revolution, American Legion, Lions Club International and Rotary Club International. VUHS students have written, redrafted, practiced and delivered orations ranging in length from three minutes to over twenty minutes on topics ranging from the impact of the discoveries of Christopher Columbus to the role of the veteran in American society, the United States Constitution and making dreams a reality. In each event, VUHS students presented their research, reflections and views on topics critical to the American democracy and their role in it as citizens.

     George Bernard Shaw once commented, “Words are only postage stamps delivering the object for you to unwrap,” and in preparing for a speech competition each student not only examines a topic in-depth, but unwrap their own views and presents them in a public venue for all to hear. While some students come to the experience feeling confident and willing to be on center stage, others are stepping far outside their comfort zone in making a public speech. While there can only be one winner in each competition, each student involved learns a skill that they will carry far beyond school walls and a graduation diploma. The ability to communicate in spoken form to an audience of your peers is involved in every phrase of a career at some point and these Commodore students are ready for the challenge. A special thanks is given to the civic organizations for holding these competitions and supporting the young orators as they express themselves publicly and for many for the first time. Earning top honors for this year is Rotary International Speech Winner: Hannah Degraaf, Lions International Speech Winner: Jessy Sturtevant, American Legion Oratorical Speech Winner: Nathan North, Veteran’s of Foreign Wars Speech Winner: Jacob Steponaitis and DAR Columbus Essay Winner still to be announced.

     If anyone is interested in exploring this area of communication, contact your local civic organization or check out the national websites under programs and scholarship programs. The winning speeches will be posted on the VUHS website in the coming week and can be seen at www.vuhs.org .

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