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Speech Trek
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Speech Trek is an AAUW-CA annual speaking contest open to all high-school girls and boys on a subject related to AAUW’s themes. Students prepare a five-minute speech with strict timing guidelines and may use only one small note card.  Speech preparation requires students to use research, organizational and oratorical skills. The contest begins at the branch level. Three state competitors, selected from video tapes of their winning branch speeches, progress to a competition at the AAUW State Convention in the spring.

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The Eleanor Stem-Allen Speech Trek Scholarship was endowed by Gray Allen in honor of his late wife, Eleanor Allen, who was a dedicated AAUW member.  She initiated the branch Speech Trek program and served as the branch Speech Trek Coordinator for the first two years.  The Scholarship funds the prize monies for our branch winners and for the winners at the annual state AAUW convention.  Local branch prizes are $750 for 1st, $500 for 2nd, and $250 for 3rd. The State competition prizes are $1500, $750, and $500, respectively for the top three awards. The Scholarship also funds all of the branch expenses for the program, as well as expenses for the branch winner to attend the state convention.

2021-2022 Speech Trek Contest

Topic

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"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”

- Declaration of Independence, 1776

 

In just five years from now, on July 4, 2026, the US will mark the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. As this milestone anniversary approaches, the conversation around diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) appears to be intensifying throughout society.

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Has the United States lived up to its pledge of “liberty and justice for all”?

Would requiring the study of diversity, equity and inclusion in a

high school setting help ensure liberty and justice for all?

Past Branch Contest Topics & Winners

[ Topic... ]

Sarah Murphy

senior, Whitney HS

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Evelyn Bartholomew

sophomore, Whitney HS

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Kavana Goner

sophomore, Granite Bay HS

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Gabrielle Camba

freshman, Lincoln HS

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Jared Parris

sophomore, Antelope HS

1st place:

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2nd place:

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3rd place:

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Runner Up:

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Runner Up:

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2019

2018

Sarah Murphy

senior, Whitney HS

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Evelyn Bartholomew

sophomore, Whitney HS

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Kavana Goner

sophomore, Granite Bay HS

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Gabrielle Camba

freshman, Lincoln HS

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Jared Parris

sophomore, Antelope HS

1st place:

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2nd place:

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3rd place:

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Runner Up:

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Runner Up:

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2017

Sarah Murphy

Senior, Whitney HS

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Evelyn Bartholomew

Sophomore, Whitney HS

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Kavana Goner

Sophomore, Granite Bay HS

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Gabrielle Camba

Freshman, Lincoln HS

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Jared Parris

Sophomore, Antelope HS

1st place:

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2nd place:

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3rd place:

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Runner Up:

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Runner Up:

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"Is it time to pass the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA)?"

2016

Caitlyn Jordan

Senior, Oakmont HS

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Sarah Murphy

Junior, Whitney HS

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Skyler Vega

Junior, Rocklin HS

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Thomas Ebrahimi

Senior, Woodcreek HS

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Ashley Isaac

Junior, Del Oro HS

1st place:

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2nd place:

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Runner Up:

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"Gender Bias and Inequality"

2015

Sai Sumana Kaluvai

Senior, Granite Bay HS

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Jenny Mooney

Senior, Horizon Charter School

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Skyler Vega

Sophomore, Rocklin HS

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1st place:

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2nd place:

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3rd place:

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"Whether or Not College is Worth the Time and Expense"

2014

Sai Sumana Kaluvai

Junior, Granite Bay HS

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Caitlyn Jordan

Sophomore, Oakmont HS

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Nicolette Tucker

Sophomore, Whitney HS

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1st place:

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2nd place:

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3rd place:

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"Women at the top? ...Why not?"

2013

Kelly Nabaglo

Senior, Woodcreek HS

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Rani Ghosh

Senior, Granite Bay HS

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Andrew Solano

Junior, Woodcreek HS

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1st place:

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2nd place:

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"Sexual Harassment in Schools"

2012

Allyson McReynolds

Senior, Granite Bay HS

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Camille Deloney

Senior, Woodcreek HS

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Amanda Wong

Junior, Rocklin HS

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"Bullying... So What?"

1st place:

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2nd place:

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2011

Jesse Nelson

Junior, Woodcreek HS

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Tayryn Edwards

Junior, Woodcreek HS

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Jesar Shah

Senior, Roseville HS

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1st place:

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2nd place:

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"Breaking Through Barriers - Internationally"

Seventy percent of the 1.2 billion people in the world living in poverty are women. What is the most significant barrier to be overcome to lift these women out of poverty, internationally? What organization, foundation or program is having the greatest impact on this barrier?

2010

Ela Banerjee

Junior, Roseville HS

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Alexus Howze

Senior, Woodcreek HS

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Alex Ayers

Senior, Woodcreek HS

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1st place:

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2nd place:

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3rd place:

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"Breaking Through Barriers"

  If you could organize 100,000 women, millions of dollars

in resources and thousands of volunteer hours to bring equality

to women in one area, what would that area be? and Why?

2009

Christion Hatchett

Sophomore, Woodcreek HS

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Tayryn Edwards

Freshman, Woodcreek HS

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Mary-Kate Cavaghan

Junior, Roseville HS

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"Gender Equity in Education"

What are the facts about gender equity…are girls succeeding at the expense of boys?

1st place:

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2nd place:

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2008

1st place:

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Cisalee Burgess

"Behind the Pay Gap"

1st place:

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2007

Anna Torres

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"Education as the Gateway to Women's Economic Security"

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