Speech Contest
On February 26, 2026, the Youth Speech Contest roared back to life at Rotary Club of Oakland #3. The Henry J. Kaiser Auditorium filled with Rotarians, parents, teachers, and guests as student speakers took the stage to compete.
The Kaiser Center wasn't the only room the Speech Committee filled. More students signed up than RCO #3 could accommodate, so the Committee partnered with the San Leandro and Piedmont clubs to run two additional contests.
The contest matters for students and for Rotary:
Students gain
- Real-world speaking experience — and the confidence that comes with it
- Networking with business, community, and political leaders
- A boost for college and internship applications
- Cash prizes, no strings attached — over $25,000 district-wide
Rotary gains
- A visible, rewarding way to invest in young people
- Stronger ties to students, schools, and teachers that support Interact, Enterprise Institute, and other Rotary youth programs
- Students engaged with Service Above Self
- Increased Rotary brand awareness
Join us! The Speech Committee is looking for:
- IT volunteer — build an online registration system for student sign-ups, replacing our current Google Forms based solution. Best guess is roughly 10–40 hours depending on scope. Could be a one-time build or ongoing — your choice.
- School liaison — help introduce the contest to local high schools. Existing school contacts are a plus but not required. Needs 1–2 afternoons a week, October through early November 2026; help at other times is welcome but optional.
The Speech Committee currently meets every other Wednesday on Zoom.
Interested, or just have questions? We’d love to hear from you.
Contact Bill Swartz at bswartz@bswartz.com.
