13th Annual Speech Trek Contest Celebrates Its Winner by Ann Arneill

On Saturday, Feb. 15 the Speech Trek Committee and many wonderful volunteers, family and friends of the speakers gathered at Cosumnes River College to listen to five high school students from the Elk Grove Unified School District speak on the topic: Are men and women truly equal today? Or are the suffragists of 1920 still suffering in 2020?  Students concurred that the suffragists are still suffering due to gender inequality!

Our 2020 Speech Trek Winners

First Place Winner was Sophia Wang, a freshman at Franklin High School, receiving $500. Second Place Winner, Noura Mahmoud, a junior from Pacific Grove High School, received $300. The Third Place Winner was Prayer Noyogiere, a sophomore from Cosumnes Oaks High School, who received $200.

 

The winning speech can be viewed at: https://youtu.be/kCptMlM3VZk

The Sacramento Branch’s winning speaker is entered into the AAUW CA Speech Trek Semi-Finals, and the top three winners will be announced around the first or second week in March. If Sophia Wang makes it into the top three, she will be invited to compete at the Annual Meeting on April 18 in San Francisco. She will also be presenting her speech as the May Branch meeting—something to look forward to because she is a very dynamic speaker.

Dr. Virginia Kidd, Communications Professor Emeritus at CSUS, and Beverly Hahner and Nina Mansfield, both members of the Mather Chapter of Toastmasters, judged the event. Ellynrose Sheehan, Speech Trek Committee member, was Greeter. AAUW member Kathleen Deaver served as timekeeper for the contest, and Billie VeerKamp, President of the CSUS AAUW Chapter, and her committee video recorded all of the student speeches. Thanks to other branch members for their help: Cathy Locke, Karen Burley, Gloria Yost, Linda Sparks, and Jan Suter.

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