AMAZING STUDENTS COMPETE IN ROTARY SPEECH CONTEST
The Rotary Club of Minden hosted its annual Rotary Speech Contest on March 12th at the C.O.D. This yearly contest is conducted between Douglas County high school age participants, thanks to the efforts Jim Hales, the Rotary Club Youth Services Coordinator. The winner from our Club will go on to compete again on March 26th against other Carson City and Lake Tahoe Rotary Club winners for a chance to take on the Rotary District club’s best from northern Nevada and California, east of Sacramento, on April 16th in Reno.
Contestants are given a random order in which to speak before the club. Club member-judges are selected to grade each speaker in eight different categories having to do with presentation, content, organization and clarity of their message. This year’s theme was to speak on how being united for good can make dreams come true.
There were three Douglas High School students who spoke to a large gathering of Rotarians. The audience was advised to withhold applause until after all the presentations were made, so as not to influence the judging, which proved to be a difficult task, given the excellence of each speech. Speakers were identified and judged by a number only. After the tabulations were completed and the cash awards were given each contestant was introduced to loud applause.
The first place $250 check was given to the youngest presenter, Jack Esterby a freshman and aspiring thespian/actor, whose talk began with an engaging question about epic movies. Historical, epic and mythological movie themes take tremendous amounts of time, collaboration, teamwork, money, people and effort. One of Jack’s examples was of producing an epic movie, the Titanic. He said that there were over 18,150 people involved in making Titanic, which illustrated the point that cooperation, working together and backing each other up can result in greatness, not just in movies, but in all aspects of life. Families, friends, teachers, and teams by working together can “make a dream into a reality.” Using the phrase: “teamwork is dream work” Jack said that this is where people can reach their true potential.
Other participants were Sydney Stroud and Kennedy Torres. Sydney, is a junior, enjoys school, debate, art and photography. Sydney’s speech covered the “Someday Syndrome” that happens when one sets goals to only be disappointed upon meeting the objective instead of enjoying the journey. By looking for happiness in obtaining things or achieving goals people oftentimes feel the accomplishment is empty. Therefore, we should “turn to the present for true fulfilment” and appreciate the process/journey. During that time skills can be developed in whatever one is passionate about. She said close relationships are most important, as is community, for helping to work together to introduce new ideas. Sydney’s closing statement was “don’t postpone happiness for fulfilment.”
Kennedy Torres, a sophomore, comes from a family involved with basketball. With basketball as a theme, Kennedy gave several examples of how working as a team and not just for oneself can work for the good and to reach a lofty goal. When USA basketball’s “Redeem Team” led by Kobe Bryant and LeBron James and coach K, of Duke, came together, they all worked as a team, not as individual stars. Because of that teamwork, they swept the 2008 Olympic games. Another example of working together was the Chicago Bulls united efforts given by superstars Michael Jordon, Dennis Rodman and Scottie Pippen. Even with the off-court antics of Rodman, they worked and learned to come together and win 6 championships. Kennedy said, “no one wins alone.” Building relationships and trust is needed in politics also, so that common goals can be shared and met by focusing on agreed upon goals.
