RUHS Junior
Is Speech Champ

Lauren Soares, center, is all smiles after winning a speech contest involving students from two states and Quebec. Supporters include English teacher Tina O'Donnell, who trained the speech contestants at the high school here, and Randolph Rotary Club President Sonny Holt.

Brimming with confidence, RUHS junior Lauren Soares left the podium and took her microphone onto the floor in North Conway, N.H. Saturday to win the annual speech contest sponsored by District 7850 of Rotary International.

Lauren, representing the Randolph Rotary Club, capped a series of earlier victories to become the top speaker among all 41 Rotary Clubs scattered across Vermont, New Hampshire and Quebec.

Randolph Rotary has participated in the speech contests for seven years, and several other RUHS students have placed in high positions, but this is the first time that a Randolph student has won the undisputed top prize.

"Congratulations to Lauren Soares for making us proud to be Rotarians," said Rotary President Sonny Holt, who was among several Randolphites present at the event.

Having won three previous contests on the way to final victory, Lauren also won $1000. Last year, she reached the finals of the contest.

Holt described the scene in North Conway:

"The room was filled with stately men and women Rotarians, including club presidents and many past district governors of Rotary. We were waiting in anticipation of the final speech contest.

Lauren was called to the podium and given the microphone. But rather than speak from the stage, she took the microphone, walked to the front of the room and began her talk. Delivered without notes and from her heart, she gave an impassioned speech.

"For the next five minutes she held the audience spellbound. I, for one, felt a tear in my eye at the conclusion of her talk. I was so proud to know that this beautiful and poised young woman represented Randolph Rotary, the High School and the town of Randolph.  I knew then and there that she had won. And when the final scoring was completed that's how it turned out."

Lauren spoke on one of two sanctioned topics, the "Four Way Test," a statement of principles shared by all Rotary Clubs.

Lots of Support

"We are obviously all very proud of Lauren," said her mother, Randolph School Board member Laura Soares.

"She actually does not include us in her speech writing or presentation," Soares confided. "We get to hear it only if she succeeds in Randolph and proceeds to the next round.

"I have watched her grow in the process over the last two years. This competition has provided her with a terrific opportunity for public speaking that I don't think she would otherwise have."

A big group of Lauren’s supporters traveled to North Conway to be present, including several family members, friends Bryn Keenhold, Jenna Miller and Katherine Miller, and Rhonda Kay, standing in for her husband, school Supt. Brent Kay.

Randolph’s speakers were recruited and trained by RUHS English teacher Tina O'Donnell, who was also in North Conway.

Herald editor Dick Drysdale organizes annual local participation in the speech contest every year on Rotary’s behalf, with O’Donnell’s help.

Lauren’s winning speech can be read on Rotary’s website: www.clubrunner.ca/CPrg/home/storyitem.asp?cid=1445&iid=49373.

Rotary is a worldwide organization of 1.2 million business and professional leaders who join together to provide humanitarian service, build goodwill and peace in the world, and encourage high ethical standards in vocations. Randolph Rotary was started in 1924.