Local heats of “Youth Speaks”

The local heats of the national “Youth Speaks” competition once again gave local young people the chance to put their public speaking skills to the test this week. 13 teams from four local schools participated in the competition this year, each team comprising 3 young people, a chairman to control the team and to introduce the speaker, a speaker who makes a presentation on the chosen topic, and a third person who delivers the “vote of thanks”. The presentations are carefully timed, with penalties for under or over running.

Once again, the presentations this year were of a very high standard. Local heat organiser, Rotarian Mike Leaman said after the event “The growth in the number of teams participating is very encouraging, and the quality of presentation is in many cases nothing short of remarkable. That speaks volumes for the importance that both teachers and their pupils give to the art of Public Speaking.”

	The Marist Senior School team from Sunninghill (Natalie Lever, Felicity Morgan & Hannah Chenoweth) won the Intermediate Section (age 11 to 14) talking on the subject "Is it Art".
The St. George’s School Ascot team (Amber Whalley, Frederica Swallow & Samantha Rogers) won the Senior Section (age 15-18). Their team spoke on the subject "We must remember them".
The award for best speaker of the evening in the Intermediate Section went to Jack Ling, a pupil at Charters School, Sunningdale. This was the 2^nd year running he had won this trophy.	The award for best speaker of the evening in the Senior Section was won by Chloe Gass of St. George’s School.

The local heats were organised by the Rotary Club of Ascot, and were hosted by St George’s School, Ascot, in their chapel and the auditorium. The national “Youth Speaks” competition is organised by Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland. Tonight’s winners will now compete in the next round in Uxbridge in the New Year.