Students Wax Eloquent in English and Tamil

Abundant positive energy and excitement filled Asan Memorial Sr. Secondary School, Greams Road on Saturdy 15 February 2025 as students from various schools in Chennai city gathered for the inaugural edition of 'Talk of the Town' Elocution Contest organised by our Rotary Club of Madras South.

Joshwasree, class 9 student of Sri Sankara Matriculation School receives the winners trophy for Tamil Elocuation from District Governor N S Saravanan.

The participants had well prepared their speeches on one of the four topics given already - Women Empowerment, Say no to drugs, Care for the environment and Service to the community - and they appeared one after the other on the stage captivating their audience with their powerful delivery. The team of judges from the Club and from Asan Memorial School evaluated the speeches. Twelve finalists (six each in English and Tamil) made it to the final rounds, and spoke again in front of the grand audience.

A Anjali, class 9 student of Sacred Heart Girls High School (Tamil Medium) receives the winners trophy for English Elocuation from District Governor N S Saravanan.

The excitement built up more in the auditorium as the finalists spoke with confidence and passion. Their understanding of the subject and dramatic flair impressed everyone. In the end, judges announced the winners to the thundering applause of the audience. The following are the winners:

English Elocution

1st Prize: A Anjali, Sacred Heart Girls High School (Tamil Medium), IX Std.

2nd Prize: A Thowfiqa Yasmeen, Velankanni Hr. Sec. School, IX Std.

3rd Prize: J Homahelen, Velankanni Hr. Sec. School, IX Std.

Consolation Prize: K Krishna, Sri Sankara Matriculation School, IX Std.

Consolation Prize: R Rishmitha, SMDP Venugopal Chetty School, VIII Std.

Consolation Prize: S Keerthana, St. Anthony’s Anglo Indian School, IX Std.

Tamil Elocution

1st Prize: Joshwasree, Sri Sankara Matriculation School, IX Std.

2nd Prize: K M Dhanyashree, Manuelmony Matriculation School, VIII Std.

3rd Prize: – M S H Abdulla – Measi Matriculation Hr. Sec. School, XI Std.

Consolation Prize: Hellen Varshika, Sacred Hearts High School, X Std.

Consolation Prize: Raja Ganesh – Sri Sankar Matriculation School, VIII Std.

Consolation Prize: Danish Fathima, Vivekananda Vidya Kala Ashram. VIII Std.

Winners of 'Talk of the Town' Inter-School Elocution Contest pose with their winning trophies.

Cheers erupted as trophies and certificates were presented to the winners by District Governor N S Saravanan (Rotary District 3234). More than the awards, the event left a lasting impression on everyone and inspired them to do more, demonstrating the power of the spoken word. At the end, the Club announced that the contest will return next year and the students left the auditorium brimming in their mind with ideas for the next edition, as it is not just about competition but is the journey of joy and confidence to face the big world.