February 15th saw Northgate Methodist Church in Warwick host the annual “Youth Speaks” competition organised by the Rotary Clubs of Warwick, Warwick Avon, and Southam 2000, to give local young people a chance to demonstrate their public speaking skills.
This year just 9 young people competed in teams from Kineton High School, Princethorpe College, and Warwick School. Teams were competing as Seniors (14 -17).
Each team of three members had 15 minutes to present the case for a topic of their choosing which ranged from “Artificial Intelligence” to “Votes for Prisoners” This annual event gives young people a chance to voice their opinions on topics they feel strongly about and demands significant research, knowledge and the confidence to present arguments clearly and concisely.
The contestants were judged by an experienced panel well steeped in the mystical art of public speaking. The event was hosted by the President of the Rotary Club of Warwick, Keith Talbot; Southam 2000 by Sarah Kelly; and Warwick Avon President Jennie Guest, and attended by Warwick Mayor Cllr Parminder Singh Birdi, parents and colleagues.
The Senior class was won by the team from Princethorpe College debating whether “Valentines Day is nothing more than a commercial enterprise”.
The team were Eloise Keil, Charlotte Frost and Tom Lomas
Warwick Mayor Cllr Parminder Singh Birdi presented the winning team Prize. He congratulated all the speakers and said they had acquired confidence which would serve them well in the future.
Rotarian Alan Bailey presented the Runner up team Prize and said that the Rotary Club had been organising the competition for many years and all the teams were “winners” in that learning how to speak in public would give everyone an advantage in life.
The team were Ryan Taylor, Frederic Wyatt, and Pranav Raja.
Winners and runner up teams received book tokens from Warwick Books which supported the event, and a Certificate of Participation for their Achievement Folders. The winners go forward to the Regional Finals held on March 5th at Campion School.
Benjy Brannon, Ryan Taylor and Archie Flude
President Keith Talbot closed the evening thanking parents and teachers who supported them through the preparation process and wishing them well with their exams.
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