17th Annual Speech Trek Contest Celebrates Its Winner By Ann Arneill
On Saturday, Feb. 10, 2024, the Speech Trek Committee held its Speech Trek contest via Zoom, with great success. An audience listened to three high school students from three Elk Grove Unified School District high schools speak on the topic: If an educated population is essential to a nation’s prosperity, then how can we ensure a robust public school curriculum that is accessible to all and teaches historically accurate information? In these times when states and school boards are censoring the content of school curriculum, this topic is very timely.
First-place winner was Alyssa Wong, from Laguna Creek High School, receiving $500. Second-place winner, Nandi Moyo from Cosumnes High School, received $300. The third-place winner was Maryluz Sandig from Laguna Creek High School, who received $100.
The Sacramento Branch’s winning speaker is entered in the AAUW CA Speech Trek Semi-finals. If Alyssa Wong makes it to into the top three, she will be invited to compete in the finals for $1,500. She will also present her speech at the May branch meeting.
Virginia Kidd, Ph.D., communications professor emeritus at CSUS, and our very own members Liz Jordan and Linda Patterson judged the event. AAUW member Kathleen Deaver served as timekeeper for the contest. Thanks to branch member Karen Burley for technical assistance.
The Speech Trek Committee would like to expand its membership. Working on Speech Trek is very gratifying. You are helping high school students develop a skill that is no longer taught in public high schools. Public speaking will help them in their future schooling and their careers. Committee members can choose from a variety of tasks with varying degrees of responsibility. Please consider volunteering for this committee. Contact Shari Beck at gsbeck@surewest.net or Ann Arneill at ann_arneill@comcast.net.
TECH TREK has TREKERS! By Marlys Huez
The Tech Trek Committee is making great progress in preparing to send campers from our
branch to the July 14-20 Tech Trek Camp at UC Davis.
Thanks to the diligent work of our wonderful Tech Trek committee recruiters, Gloria Yost and Kathleen Deaver, the applications for the July UC Davis camp are starting to arrive. Gloria and Kathleen have done a great job with contacting principals/counselors and teachers, and working with parents to produce completed applications for another quality class of young women with interests in STEM fields.
We are becoming expert with the application and tracking software, CampDoc. Chair Marlys Huez has proactively worked with the state and camp coordinators to keep our process and data responsibilities moving forward. Also, Lori Franz and Mary Miller co-chairs from last year, have happily rejoined the Tech Trek Committee along with Monique Stovall and Joyce Humphrey. We are excited to be able to meet the applicants soon.
For those members who would like some limited, but very fun, interaction with the camps and campers, we have been asked to recruit volunteers, including a dorm mom, to help out during the Davis camp week. Volunteers for a day are also welcome! Please consider!