Speech Trek
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.
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
"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.
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?
Topic
"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.
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
Evelyn Bartholomew
sophomore, Whitney HS
Kavana Goner
sophomore, Granite Bay HS
Gabrielle Camba
freshman, Lincoln HS
Jared Parris
sophomore, Antelope HS
1st place:
2nd place:
3rd place:
Runner Up:
Runner Up:
2019
2018
Sarah Murphy
senior, Whitney HS
Evelyn Bartholomew
sophomore, Whitney HS
Kavana Goner
sophomore, Granite Bay HS
Gabrielle Camba
freshman, Lincoln HS
Jared Parris
sophomore, Antelope HS
1st place:
2nd place:
3rd place:
Runner Up:
Runner Up:
[ Topic... ]
2017
Sarah Murphy
Senior, Whitney HS
Evelyn Bartholomew
Sophomore, Whitney HS
Kavana Goner
Sophomore, Granite Bay HS
Gabrielle Camba
Freshman, Lincoln HS
Jared Parris
Sophomore, Antelope HS
1st place:
2nd place:
3rd place:
Runner Up:
Runner Up:
"Is it time to pass the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA)?"
2016
Caitlyn Jordan
Senior, Oakmont HS
Sarah Murphy
Junior, Whitney HS
Skyler Vega
Junior, Rocklin HS
Thomas Ebrahimi
Senior, Woodcreek HS
Ashley Isaac
Junior, Del Oro HS
1st place:
2nd place:
3rd place:
Runner Up:
Runner Up:
"Gender Bias and Inequality"
2015
Sai Sumana Kaluvai
Senior, Granite Bay HS
Jenny Mooney
Senior, Horizon Charter School
Skyler Vega
Sophomore, Rocklin HS
1st place:
2nd place:
3rd place:
"Whether or Not College is Worth the Time and Expense"
2014
Sai Sumana Kaluvai
Junior, Granite Bay HS
Caitlyn Jordan
Sophomore, Oakmont HS
Nicolette Tucker
Sophomore, Whitney HS
1st place:
2nd place:
3rd place:
"Women at the top? ...Why not?"
2013
Kelly Nabaglo
Senior, Woodcreek HS
Rani Ghosh
Senior, Granite Bay HS
Andrew Solano
Junior, Woodcreek HS
1st place:
2nd place:
3rd place:
"Sexual Harassment in Schools"
2012
Allyson McReynolds
Senior, Granite Bay HS
Camille Deloney
Senior, Woodcreek HS
Amanda Wong
Junior, Rocklin HS
"Bullying... So What?"
1st place:
2nd place:
3rd place:
2011
Jesse Nelson
Junior, Woodcreek HS
Tayryn Edwards
Junior, Woodcreek HS
Jesar Shah
Senior, Roseville HS
1st place:
2nd place:
3rd place:
"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
Alexus Howze
Senior, Woodcreek HS
Alex Ayers
Senior, Woodcreek HS
1st place:
2nd place:
3rd place:
"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
Tayryn Edwards
Freshman, Woodcreek HS
Mary-Kate Cavaghan
Junior, Roseville HS
"Gender Equity in Education"
What are the facts about gender equity…are girls succeeding at the expense of boys?
1st place:
2nd place:
3rd place:
2008
1st place:
Cisalee Burgess
"Behind the Pay Gap"
1st place:
2007
Anna Torres
"Education as the Gateway to Women's Economic Security"