Student Rules & Procedures

Who is Eligible:

Any high school student (freshman through senior) residing within District 6710’s boundaries (generally the western half of Kentucky) is eligible. Students of Rotarians MAY PARTICIPATE in their parents’ or relatives’ Club Contest if that club is their school’s closest Rotary Club, providing their parents or relatives do not serve in any capacity in the staging of the Club Contest. Private, public, and home-taught school students are eligible to compete. They should enter the Rotary Club nearest to them holding a contest. Students may enter only one Rotary Club contest. Students entering more than one club contest will be disqualified from both and will surrender any prize money awarded to them. An alternate based on the finish in each affected club will be selected to fill the disqualified slots. Clubs are to open their contest to all high school students in their service area. Students from more than one school and more than one student from any one school may end up competing in a club’s contest.

How to Become a Contestant:

Students should enter the Speech Contest of the nearest Rotary Club having a contest in their area by completing an application/release form for the contest. These forms should be available in their high school office, guidance office, speech teacher’s office, their local Rotary Club, or on the Rotary District 6710 website. Entry forms must be completed and submitted, or a student will not be allowed to compete. It is highly recommended that all students interested in the contest should enroll as early as possible and no later than the start of the Winter Holiday Break (check with your local Rotary Club on when the dates for application are, as each club has different registration and competition dates). Students should verify the contest date with their local club.

Composing & Delivering the Speech:

Students are expected to read and become familiar with the contest rules included in the Speech Packets. Students are to read the Speech Contest Topic sheet that is part of the Speech Contest Packet. They are also expected to research and address the speech topic. Students may consult teachers, parents, Rotary members, or others for information, coaching, or assistance, but each student must write their own speech. Any part of the speech from other sources must be acknowledged in the speech delivery. Students should become familiar with the contest rules and scoring system. Time limits for speeches is 5 – 8 minutes.

Students may use notes or cue cards while delivering their speech at the club level contests; however, students will be penalized points if they read their speeches. Student Contestants who win their Club Contests must deliver their advanced contest speech (levels beyond the Club level) without reading or using notes or cue cards. There will be no exceptions to this rule. Students who read or use notes at Advanced Contests will be penalized points, which will significantly affect their final score.

Contest Conduct & Protocol:

Only one contestant per club may advance to the next contest level. The second-place winner shall serve as an alternate, in the event that the club winner cannot participate at the next contest level. Each sponsoring Club is responsible for seeing that their winning contestant is advised of the location, time, and date of the next level Contest.

For fairness, Contestants will be introduced as Contestant A, B, C, etc., not by names, numbers, or schools. After all speeches, while Judges, Timekeepers, and Tellers are at work, Contestants should introduce themselves and their guests, and provide a few words about their background, interests, and what they intend to pursue in their future studies and careers.

No one should be allowed to enter or leave the room during a speech. No speech should be applauded, as this may influence scoring. Applause can take place after all Contestants have delivered speeches. The Club may advise the parents and guests of what they are doing in their community or otherwise during the time it takes the scores to be tallied, and winners confirmed.

Judging and Scoring:

If Contestants use notes at any Advanced Contest level, there will be a deduction of 25 points off their score. Judges shall weigh each speech based on 1 to 100 points using these criteria:

1. 1. Up to 30 points for Delivery
   2. Up to 35 points for Originality
   3. Up to 35 points for Content

Score sheets are included in the Speech Packets and shall be used by each Judge. In addition to the quality and delivery of the speeches, the Judges will be scoring on whether the speech addresses the assigned topic.

At least 3 Judges, 2 Tellers, and 2 Timekeepers should be on hand for each round of the speech contest. Contestants shall be allowed to have their parents or family members on hand at all contests. Timekeepers will time the speeches, and Tellers will compute the scores and assign penalites, if any. Final scoring will be calculated on a weighted point system per Judge, with 5 points going to each Judge’s highest score, 3 points to 2nd place, and 1 point to 3rd.

Contest Management:

Club Speech Contest winners shall advance to the club’s area Sectional Contest. The winner from each of the six Sectional Contests will advance to one of the three Regional Contests, and Regional winners advance to the District Final, which is held at the annual District Conference each year in May.

Prizes:

Each Rotary Club participating is responsible for their club’s cash award prize of $300 to first, $200 to second, and $100 to third place finishers. At each club’s discresion, additional prizes may be offered if there are more than three contestants. All prizes for contests beyond the Club level will be provided by the District. Advanced Contest Prize amounts shall be determined yearly and published in the Speech Packets.

Publicity:

Each Club Speech Contest Chairperson/Coordinator is responsible for seeing that all high schools in their service area are contacted and provided Speech Contest Packets and Entry Forms, or advised on how to download them from the District website. Assistance from the Principal, Assistants, Guidance Counselors, Speech teacher, debate coach, and/or other faculty members or parents is essential for the success of the students and the program. The Club Speech Contest Chair is also responsible for publicity — providing press releases to the local news media (radio, television, newspapers, internet, etc.) about the contest and announcing and reporting contest winners. School newspapers and announcements should also be used to publicize the contest.