Speaking Competition Returns Showcasing Grade 7 and 8 Talent
On May 23, 2025, nine students from Grades 7 and 8 proudly represented their homeroom classes in the 26th annual St. Michael’s College School (SMCS) Intermediate Public Speaking Competition.
The competition, which saw students speak passionately about topics from AI to peer pressure, was held on stage in the Centre for the Arts in front of the entire Grade 7 and 8 student body.
“This highly anticipated event served as the culmination of a comprehensive end-of-year unit dedicated to enhancing students’ oral communication skills—an essential component of their academic and personal development,” says Matthew Pagano ’92, Core Intermediate Department Head.
Throughout the unit, students engaged in a variety of activities designed to refine their ability to articulate ideas clearly, speak with confidence, and present arguments persuasively.
“Among the distinguished participants, Grade 8 student Austin Jung was awarded first place for his compelling and thoughtful speech opposing factory farming,” says Pagano. “His delivery demonstrated not only strong rhetorical skills but also a deep commitment to social and ethical issues.”
The finalists were selected through a competitive process in their classrooms and exemplified the highest standards of preparation, poise, and passion.
“For many, public speaking is the gravest fear,” says Jung. “Upon being chosen to present in front of all my peers and teachers, I was overwhelmed with joy, but mostly apprehension. Starting the speech was most definitely the most difficult part, my legs and hands shook inevitably; however, coming into my first body paragraph, I imagined the crowd as any regular rehearsal. I poured my passion, dedication, and diligence into using a variety of skills. Through this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, I learned that a speech is not meant to please the audience but to simply persuade. Coming in first place, I was overwhelmed with excitement at the fact that my name would be on the plaque with various politicians, lawyers, and doctors.”
Grade 7 students Lochlan Clement and Sebastian Savard earned second and third place respectively, impressing the judges with their clarity, creativity, and effective use of persuasive techniques.
“This experience was awesome! I learned so many new skills while doing my speech,” says Clement, who spoke of birth order and being the fourth sibling and youngest in his family. “I was really nervous at first, but once I got on stage, it went smoothly. I realized that practicing is key, especially memorizing. That helped me speak with confidence. I felt so proud afterward, especially placing second. It’s an experience I’ll never forget. Thank you very much for giving me this opportunity.”
Savard spoke about online issues and concerns in a lively speech. He says the entire experience helped teach him many new skills, including the use of verbal and non-verbal speaking techniques.
“We extend our heartfelt congratulations to all the participants for their outstanding efforts and commend them for their courage in sharing their voices in front of an audience,” says Pagano. “Their performances were a testament to the power of student voice and the value of public speaking as a vital skill for future success.”
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