AARP Speech Contest Builds on Public Speaking Skills

SWAN VALLEY – For more than 20 years the Swan Valley AARP has sponsored the biennial Speech Contest for local students. On April 26, Swan Valley Elementary School (SVES) students gave their speeches for their fellow students, community members and AARP judges. Supervising teacher Susan Bracha felt all of the students did an amazing job and was proud of each one.

Thirteen fifth through eighth grade students chose one of three categories for their speech: an original speech, a memorized speech or a demonstration. AARP members Mary Fitzsimon, Mike Childs, Joe Raible and Sharon Lamar judged them by age and category.

Bracha said the Speech Contest fits in with the educational goals at SVES. It helps the students practice their public speaking skills. The students do research to write their speeches or find a speech they relate to and understand well enough to share it effectively. Bracha said it also takes them out of the classroom and puts them in a more meaningful real-life experience.

"It was really amazing to me [that] they all gave their speeches with feeling. You could tell they had done a lot of practice with their teachers," said Bracha.

Bracha said even though many of the students were nervous, they all said afterwards that they enjoyed the experience.

Seventh-grader Richardson gave a demonstration on how to put up a tent. He said the experience was valuable because public speaking is something they will need to do later in life.

Bracha agreed, "Public speaking is something we all have to do. [The Speech Contest gives them that experience] at a young age and [lays the] foundation for being able to deal with [public speaking] and do it well."

Fifth-grader Matthew Cardenas shared his original speech "God and Prayer." He said he was nervous but he "had courage." He looked at something other than the audience to help him stay focused.

This was fifth-grader Nakira Morgan's first speech. She gave an original speech entitled "Homeless Children and Abused Animals." Before she gave it, she said she was really nervous but afterwards said, "This speech was amazing and it was cool."

AARP judge Lamar wrote in an email, "From a comedy routine to motivational and persuasive speeches, the presentations by the students were impressive for the range of subject matter and the preparedness of the participants." 

Bracha appreciates the opportunity this gives the school to partner with local organizations like AARP.

"I think it really goes a long way [toward keeping] our school from being an isolated entity," said Bracha. "It also gives the kids an excellent opportunity to show off what they know."

The first place students were invited to the AARP meeting May 1 where they shared their speech with all the Swan Valley members.

7th-8th Grade Winners

Memorized Speech:

1st Rialee White

2nd Aspen Conley

3rd Rose Mercer

Demonstration Speech: 1st Seth Richardson

2nd Nick Bedson

5th-6th Grade Winners

Memorized Speech:

1st Connor Matthew

2nd Trista Alexander

Original Speech:

1st Kyla Conley

2nd Jalen Kauffman

3rd Nakira Morgan