Speech Trek is a speaking contest open to all California high school students. Since 2007, Speech Trek has been showcasing talented young people responding to topics related to AAUW’s mission. Contests at branch and state levels provide students with opportunities to develop and sharpen research, critical thinking, and communication skills.
Speech Trek is an AAUW California Project that begins on the branch level with a speech tournament for local students and culminates with three top statewide finalists performing their five-to-six-minute speeches at the AAUW California convention/annual meeting in April.
California Online has been participating in Speech Trek for over 10 years and has had one State first place winner (2021) and several 4th and 5th place winners (honorable mentions). California Online sponsors participants who wish to compete but don’t have a local branch to sponsor them. All mentoring and coaching is conducted online and the final contest for its first place winner is through a Zoom event, generally at the end of February. Members are encouraged to solicit participants from their local high schools.
The topic for 2023-2024 is: If an educated population is essential to a nation’s prosperity, then how can we ensure a robust public school curriculum that is accessible to all and teaches historically accurate information?
Click HERE to watch the 2023 Speech Trek winners, and to check out the Branch and Student Toolkits.
For more information please contact Cathy Foxhoven, CA Online Speech Trek Coordinator at aauwfox@gmail.com.
Prior Speech Trek topics include:
2007-2008 – What’s Behind the Pay Gap?
2008-2009 –Where the Girls are – Gender Equity in Education
2009-2010 – 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? Why?
2010-2011 – Seventy percent of the 1.2 billion people living in poverty are women. What is the most significant barrier to be overcome to lift these women out of poverty? What organization, foundation or program is having the greatest impact on this barrier?
2011-2012 – BULLYING: So what?
2012-2013 –SEXUAL HARRASSMENT IN SCHOOL…big deal?
2013-2014 –Women at the top…why not?
2014-2015 – College: Is it worth the time and expense?
2015-2016 – What is gender bias and inequality? What is its impact on people? Why should organizations such as AAUW continue to work to change its practice?
2016 -2017 – Is it time to pass the Equal Rights Amendment? If so, how can this be accomplished? How can organizations such as AAUW help in getting this amendment ratified once and for all?
2017-2018–How can we stand up to sexism? What can I do as an individual, what can organizations like AAUW do to break down stereotypes and biases in school, in the military, at work, and in our communities?
2018-2019 – HOW CAN WE ELIMINATE VIOLENCE AIMED AT OUR SCHOOLS? ARE MEN AND WOMEN TRULY EQUAL TODAY, OR ARE THE SUFFRAGISTS OF 1920 STILL SUFFERING IN 2020?
2020-2021 – “Has social media helped or hindered the breaking down of barriers for women and girls?”
2021-2022 – 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?
2022-2023 – How can communities, organizations and citizens of all ages help protect and expand voting rights?
2023-2024 – If an educated population is essential to a nation’s prosperity, then how can we ensure a robust public-school curriculum that is accessible to all and teaches historically accurate information?