(Submitted by the Rotary Club of Augusta)
The Rotary Club of Augusta invites area high school students to participate in the annual Preston Johnson Speech Contest. Initiated in 1997, the contest engages Rotarians, educators and students in a meaningful and rewarding opportunity for the personal development of our nation’s future leaders.
All Richmond and Columbia County public, private and home-schooled high school students are eligible to participate. Each speech is limited to three to four minutes on the student’s choice of one of two topics: either the “Rotary 4-Way Test” or Rotary International’s theme for 2023-2024, “Create Hope in the World.” Explore www.rotary.org for ideas regarding these topics.
Local winners will receive cash awards of $1,000 for first place and $500 for second place. Both local winners will then compete for an opportunity to receive a $1,000 scholarship at the Rotary Zone level. The area’s zone winner will also present his or her speech in late April 2024 at the Rotary District Conference at Jekyll Island.
The local contest will be held at 8:30 a.m. Feb. 26, the Founders’ Room of the Miller Theater at 708 Broad St. Participants will be assigned times to arrive.
The deadline for registration is Feb. 16, 2024. Limit five applicants per school. Contact your school guidance counselor for further information or visit http://www.rotaryaugusta.org/Speech-Contest-Info or send inquiries to: augustarotaryspeechcontest@gmail.com.
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