2025 Speech Trek Contest
We have a winner!
On February 8, 2025; four competitors presented 5-6 minute speeches on the public policy topic:
Climate Change is happening. The effects are widespread and touch upon almost all aspects of our life on this planet. Select one area of impact and explore the effect climate change is having on women in the USA, and around the world.
First place winner, Aditya Kumar, will represent our affiliate in the April State Semi-final contest. The State Finals’ top 3 videos will be showcased at the AAUW California Annual Event on Saturday, April 26, 2025 at 9 am. Winners will be announced at this virtual event. Stay tuned for the results!
Thanks to all of the participating students; the Teck Trek judges: Assembly member Darshana Patel, Lindsay Ball, Harriet Gerza; Speech Trek Committee Members: Jeanni Harrison, Rene de Charon, Miriam Lauff, Joan Thompson, Mischelle Blasburg, and Sheila Walker. A special thanks to the AAUW Poway- Penasquitos Affiliate members whose generous contributions helped make Speech Trek possible.
For more information about the Speech Trek statewide contest, see https://www.aauw-ca.org/aauw-california-programs/
AAUW California
2024 Speech Trek Contest
In February, five competitors presented 5-6 minute speeches on the public policy topic:
“How can we ensure a robust public school curriculum that is accessible to all and teaches historically accurate information?”
Our first place winner, Shreeya Patel, from Del Norte High School, represented our affiliate in the statewide Speech Trek Competition on April 27th. We are happy to announce she was awarded SECOND PLACE! She will receive a prize of $1,000.00 from AAUW-CA. Congratulations, Shree!
Shreeya’s speech and the first and third place state winners’ speeches can be found at:
https://www.aauw-ca.org/2024-speech-trek-results/
Congratulations to all competitors and thanks to all who helped to organize and judge this year’s competition.
Speeches from previous years can be viewed on YouTube by searching “Speech Trek” followed by the year (ie Speech Trek 2021, or Speech Trek 2019)
AAUW California
2023 Speech Trek Contest
Nine students from local high schools including Poway High, Mt Carmel High School, and Westview competed in our 2023 branch competition. They spoke on the topic, How can communities, organizations and citizens of all ages help protect and expand voting rights?
First Place went to Cecelia Choy from Mark Keppel High School and tied for second place were Khushi Patel from Rancho Bernardo High School and Yuvraj Anand from Francis Parker School. Cecelia will move onto the AAUW California state semi-finals to compete for the state finals.
Contestants and judges for Speech Trek 2023
Congratulations to our winners of Speech Trek 2023!
AAUW California
2022 Speech Trek Contest
Congratulations to our Poway-Penasquitos Branch Speech Trek winner, Kristine Sy, for her 1st place win in the California State competition on Saturday, April 30th!! The contestants spoke on the topic: Has the US 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?
Karen McGurk, Kristine Sy, Gloria Ing and Marie Dye
We were fortunate to have Kristine and two guests attend the branch’s General meeting on Saturday May 14th. In addition, we had the pleasure of meeting her coach, Gloria Ing, who mentored two previous branch winners, Dominique Ruedaflores and jay Wang. Gloria shared an update on the previous winners and thanked the branch for our support of the youth in our community.
2021 SPEECH TREK Winners
Our 2021 branch finalist, Vidhi Kulkarni from Del Norte High School, spoke on the topic, “Has social media helped or hindered the breaking down of barriers for women and girls?“. Her fellow participants were Jay Wang from Mark Kepler High School, Olivia Toledo from Mira Mesa High School, and Nirja Trivedi from Westview High School.
Vidhi Kulkami, 1st place branch winner of 2021 Speech Trek
Our 2nd Annual Speech Trek finalist, Jay Wang, spoke on the topic “ Are men and women truly equal today, or are the Suffragettes of 1920 still suffering in 2020?” Second place went to Shiraz Rezaei, and third place to Skandhaa Subramaniam.
Our three Speech Trek winners with the judges and our branch President
Congratulations to all the participants!
Jay’s speech can be viewed on YouTube at https://youtu.be/04EFdfinNy0
Speech Trek 2019 Winners
Our 1st Annual Speech Trek 2019 finalist, Dominique Ruedaflores, spoke on the topic, “How Can We Eliminate Violence Aimed at Our Schools?”
She went on to compete at the State level and won, which was another $1500 in prize money.
We are so proud of her accomplishment!
Her speech is available on YouTube at https://youtu.be/W8gJp0EMfQM.
| Updated 14 May 2024 |