The Oratory Competition
The annual oratory contest provides a forum for students to develop presentation skills, poise, self-confidence, and a positive competitive spirit. Participating students are required to memorize famous speeches of noted national and international leaders. In the process, they acquire knowledge of life changing benchmarks in the history of the nation and the world. They are also exposed to their rich oral tradition which resonates in the many speeches that are chosen for delivery. Each school is represented by the school winner and a runner -up. While performances are ranked, all participants receive trophies. Judges evaluate each contestant on memorization, delivery, gestures, facial expression, clarity, fluency, tempo, poise, eye contact, and volume.
Since 2007 our Annual ASI Oratory Competition for Students has been held every Spring until 2018. In 2019 the in person Oratory Competition, as a result of CO-VID 2019, transitioned to remote competition. The judges in the 2021 competition were the first to be trained in an electronic evaluation system which was successfully executed on the virtual platform. The American Debate League participated in the competition and provided scholarships to the American Debate League summer academy. The 2021 Adelaide Sanford Institute Oratory first place winner was invited to compete in the Harvard Debate Competition
Dr. Adelaide Sanford with participants from the 2017 Oratory Competition.
