|
Sagamore Hill Announces Winners of the 2009 Theodore Roosevelt Association Public Speaking Contest The annual Theodore Roosevelt Association Public Speaking Contest, sponsored by the Friends of Sagamore Hill with the support of the New York Community Bank, held the finals for the annual competition. Of thirty-five semi-final contestants, fifteen were chosen for the finals held Thursday, April 23 at Sagamore Hill. The contest originated at the Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace in Manhattan in1925 and the Long Island competition was added in 1994. High school students present a five minute speech from memory on Theodore Roosevelt and the speech may be positive or negative, but must be more than a biographical sketch of the life of the 26 th US President. Contestants are judged on the originality and historical accuracy of their topic as well as the skills needed for effective speaking in public. The top prize is $1,000 plus $200 Savings bond; second $750 and third place, $500. The competition for this year was particularly keen with an unusual number of participants who presented talks of very high caliber. The judges brought back the highest number of finalists on record. This year’s winners were Lindsay Pearlman, First Place, Syosset High School; and Second Place, Amit Vora, Manhasset High School; Third Place went to Nicole Fisher, of Herricks High School. Ivor Parsons is the coach for Syosset; Noel Gish coaches for Manhasset; Jody Thompson/Michelle Kaplan are the coaches for Herricks. Congratulations to these winners and their coaches ! |
Last updated: February 26, 2015