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Theodore RooseveltŪ Public Speaking Competition
2011
Back row L to R Judges include Lt. Commander Charles Rogers, USS Theodore Roosevelt, Brandon Benavides, WRC-4, Anne Roosevelt Mason, Terry Gainer, Senate Sergeant at Arms. Front row, L to R, Mary Norman, Third Prize winner, Contest Winner, Jonathan Rucker, Regina Carter, Second Prize winner, Judge Nicole Goldstein, TRA Trustee.
On May 12, the Capital Area Chapter held our second annual Theodore Roosevelt® Public Speaking Contest at Theodore Roosevelt High School in Washington, DC, and it was a sterling success!
Nine contestants gave strong, thoughtful presentations about TR, his life, policies and legacy. The winner, senior Jonathan Rucker, announced during his speech that he had been uncertain about what he was going to do after graduating, but in the process of researching his speech and learning about TR, he had been inspired to enlist in the Navy, which he did sometime in April. Second place honoree, senior Regina Carter, gave a nuanced and accurate interpretation of TR's views on race and the times that influenced his thinking, from the Civil War through Reconstruction and the Jim Crow era, while third place senior Mary Norman exhibited the poise and confidence one would expect of the surgeon she hopes to become.
The three finalists received checks (first place, $1,000; second place $500; third place $250) and ribbon medals with an image of TR embossed on the medal. All the contestants received a certificate of completion, a copy of Aida Donald's Lion in the White House, and tote and lunch bags courtesy of judge Brandon Benavides. Judge Terry Gainer also offered all contestants the opportunity to take guided tours of the U.S. Capitol and Capitol Dome.
We were honored to have a distinguished panel of judges, including: Brandon Benavides, an Emmy award winning producer for NBC Channel 4 and president of the Washington Chapter of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists; Terry Gainer, U.S. Senate Sergeant at Arms and former chief of the U.S. Capitol Police, executive assistant chief of the Metropolitan Police in Washington, DC, and director of the Illinois State Police; Nicole Goldstein, an attorney and TRA trustee with high school and college debate experience; Lt. Commander Charles Rogers, assistant combat direction center officer for the USS TR, who drove from Norfolk to join us; and Anne Roosevelt Mason, a former English teacher and pastoral counselor and a great-granddaughter of TR's.
In addition, four volunteers prior to the contest generously shared their time and expertise in presenting a seminar on oratory and in privately critiquing students' speeches, including Monique Pressley, Phil Spector, Damon Taaffe and Reyna Walters.
We would like to acknowledge the eight people who donated $1200 in support of the contest, including TRA trustee Joe Mikalic, who contributed in honor of his mother, Frances Mikalic. Joe and his wife, Kathleen, drove from Philadelphia to see the contest.
A team from the Capital Area Chapter made the contest possible, with behind-the-scenes work beforehand and time and effort the day of, including Nicole Goldstein, Ted Kramer, Amy Krueger, Matt Lysakowski, Bette McKown, Tely Psitos, Genna Rollins and Lars Sandvik. The chapter also gratefully acknowledges the support of Mr. Robert Blandford, social studies instructor at Theodore Roosevelt High School.
Our greatest reward perhaps is best captured in a comment made by the parent of one of the contestants: "So many people have turned their backs on these kids, but you didn't."
Click here to visit the main page for the Public Speaking Competition. |
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