Local Talk Hosts Public Speaking Contest for Teens

Teens with something to say, Local Talk wants you! The newspaper, which covers events in Newark, Irvington, East Orange, West Orange, Orange, South Orange, Maplewood, Bloomfield, and Montclair, marks 11 years with a public speaking contest for local high school students on October 22, 2011.

Last year, explains Kristopher Seals, Associate Editor, Local Talk marked a decade of covering local communities with a contest that invited students from 13 schools to participate. The winners were  Vida Chiri (University High School),  Precious Osagie-Erese (East Orange Campus High School), and Dalila John (Cicely Tyson School).

This year's contest grows to include 29 schools, including Columbia High School. Each student will present a five-minute speech on one of the following topics:

*How does participating in sports activities give you a healthier lifestyle?

*How important is social media to youth?

*What does the phrase “Go Green” mean to you?

*What will improve the school system?

*Should the United States be involved in wars like Iraq, Afghanistan, and Libya?

*Should we have universal healthcare?

The first place scholarship winner will earn a $3,000 scholarship, while the second and third place winners will be awarded $2,000 and $1,000 respectively.

This competition will take place at the Robert Treat Hotel at 50 Park Place in Newark. The doors will open at 11:00 am, and the event will begin at 12:00 pm. Judges include the following: Irvington Mayor Wayne Smith, Orange Mayor Eldridge Hawkins, Jr., Newark Deputy Mayor Margarita Muniz, Essex County Clerk Christopher Durkin, Essex County Freeholder Carol Clark, East Orange General Hospital President Kevin Slavin, and Community Service Leader Patricia Balavender. Together, they will determine the top three speakers at the competition, based on parameters such as diction, knowledge of subject, etc.

If you have any questions, please contact us at (973) 678-2582 or e-mail us at localtalk@aol.com.