Speech Contest Founder Passes Away at 110.
NOVEMBER 4, 2023
“America Our Country”, the Mary Kawakami Youth Scholarship Speech Contest has been going strong since 2003. In that time the Timpanogos Arts Foundation and the City of American Fork have sponsored the contest for Junior High and High School students in North Utah County. Our objective is to support those students with initiative, drive and a commitment to leadership. It is in this spirit that this speech contest allows students to eloquently address the diverse complexities, responsibilities and beauty of “America Our Country”.
Contestants have the opportunity to construct and present their own 2-3 minute speech and have the chance to win cash scholarship prizes. Contestants are judged on content, presentation, appearance and timing. Winners of the contest go on to presents their speeches at the Veteran’s Day Ceremony.
WATCH HERE FOR 2023 INFORMATION.
2022 SPEECH CONTEST FORMS
AMERICA OUR COUNTRY Online Contest Entry Form
Contest Rules
AMERICA-OUR-COUNTRY.pdf
2022 MARY KAWAKAMI YOUTH SPEECH CONTEST
For 7th-12th Grade Junior and Senior High School Students
CASH SCHOLARSHIP PRIZES
1st PLACE……….……..$1,000.00
2nd PLACE…………….. $500.00
3rd PLACE………………$300.00
5 Recognition Awards.…$100
IMPORTANT DATES
October 20, 2022 – Entry Forms Due (limited to 25 entrants)
October 18, 3:30pm – FREE & FUN Speaker’s Training, Learn from the Pros! at the American Fork Library, located at 64 South 100 East in American Fork
November 5, 2021 1:00 p.m. Mary Kawakami Speech Contest at The Valentine Theater, located at 895 North 900 East in American Fork
DETAILS
- The contest is open to Junior High School and Senior High School Students (ages 12-18) in North Utah County.
- Contestants must present their own original speech and must not have won a 1st Place award in any speech contest in the previous 12 months.
- All participants must arrive in time to be registered and in their assigned seats before the start of the contest.
- Speeches must be at least two minutes in length and no longer than three minutes in length. A timing device will be visible.
- Contestants will be judged on content, value, presentation, language and creativity.
- This is a live contest. There will be no video entries.
- Families and friends of the contestants are invited to attend the competition.
- Selected winners are invited to present their speeches at the Veteran’s Day Awards Program in November 2022, if held live.
SAMPLE JUDGES FORM:
