Youth who participate in this yearly exhibit develop skills for communicating real-life issues to live audiences and receive professional and peer feedback. Youth ages 8-18 can participate in the contest and gain skills in learning how to organize and prepare a speech, developing speech delivery skills, and learning how to present themselves in front of an audience.
“As the director of this weekend's Public Speaking Contest, I'm excited to highlight how amazing our young speakers were,” says University of Illinois Extension 4-H youth development specialist Cindy Ogwal. “Every one of these youth showed hard work, dedication, and courage. Their speeches were not only impressive but also deeply impactful, showcasing their talents and passions.”
In the Formal Speech Division, youth share their perspective on a topic of their choice with a speech intended to motivate, persuade, or inform an audience.
In the Formal Beginner category, 1st Place Champion went to Disha Rai of McLean County, 2nd Place Reserve Champion went to Drake Miller of Franklin County, and 3rd Place went to Abigail Johnson of Knox County.
In the Formal Advanced category 1st Place Champion went to Landree Erwin of Clay County, 2nd Place Reserve Champion went to Maighdlin Booth-Hodges of Champaign County, and 3rd Place went to Annika Deschler of Champaign County.
In the Illustrated Division, speeches may inform, persuade, or motivate the audience with the use of a visual aid and may include audience participation.
In the Illustrated Beginner category 1st Place Champion went to Holleigh Hiller of Washington County, 2nd Place Reserve Champion went to Nayomi Patil of Lake County, and 3rd Place went to Avery Ax of McLean County.
In the Illustrated Advanced category 1st Place Champion went to Braeden Hamill of McHenry County, 2nd Place Reserve Champion went to Dylan Hamill of McHenry County, and 3rd Place went to Claire Campbell of McLean County.
In the Oral Interpretation Division, presentations must be previously published works or manuscripts with youth competing individually and in teams.
In the Oral Interpretation Individual category 1st Place Champion went to Eden Sanborn of Champaign County, 2nd Place Reserve Champion went to Kennedy Rusk of Macon County, and 3rd Place went to Ryker Bowman of Knox County.
In the Oral Interpretation Team category 1st Place Champions went to Cecilia Ochs and Maria Ochs of Kane County, 2nd Place Reserve Champions went to Ellie Wrage & Olivia Wrage of Logan County, and 3rd Place went to Allison O’Neill & Samantha O’Neill of Menard County.
In the Original Works Division, presentations must be published works, and manuscripts or transcripts.
In the Original Works Individual category 1st Place Champion went to Molly Dittmer of Lake County, 2nd Place Reserve Champion went to Gavin Schnall of DuPage County, and 3rd Place went to Ellie Wrage of Logan County.
In the Original Works Team category 1st Place Champions went to Ingrid Rozylowicz and Pepper Rozylowicz of DuPage County, 2nd Place Reserve Champions went to Gwen Heeley and Josie Heeley of Marshall County, and 3rd Place went to Emily Harrington and Lauren Harrington of Piatt County.
Public speaking is an important part of the overall 4-H experience. Throughout the year, 4-H members give talks and demonstrations at community club meetings and share information about the skills they learned in a project while receiving feedback in a supportive environment. Every 4-H member is also encouraged to give at least one formal presentation during a club meeting each year.
“A Huge thanks to our awesome volunteers and judges for making the event run smoothly,” says Ogwal. “And a big shout-out to our sponsor, Compeer Financial, for helping make it all happen. Together, we've made a real difference, giving these kids a chance to shine and share their voices.”
COMPEER Financial provided financial support for this program.
SOURCE: Cindy Ogwal, 4-H Youth Development Specialist, cowusu@illinois.edu
WRITER: Carissa Nelson, Media Communications Manager, 4-H State Office, carissa7@illinois.edu
About Illinois 4-H: Illinois 4-H is the flagship youth development program of University of Illinois Extension and administered through the College of Agriculture, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences. 4-H grows true leaders, youth who are empowered for life today and prepared for a career tomorrow. The hands-on approach in 4-H gives young people guidance, tools, and encouragement, and then puts them in the driver’s seat to make great things happen. Independent research confirms the unparalleled impact of the 4-H experience, demonstrating that young people are four times more likely to contribute to their communities; two times more likely to make healthier choices; two times more likely to be civically active; and two times more likely to participate in STEM programs.
Illinois Extension leads public outreach for University of Illinois by translating research into action plans that allow Illinois families, businesses, and community leaders to solve problems, make informed decisions, and adapt to changes and opportunities. Illinois Extension is part of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences.