Every year since 1915, Choate students have ascended the podium and delivered speeches for students and faculty as a test of their public speaking skills. This competition has evolved in recent years into the Pratt-Packard Declamation Contest, an annual public speaking competition. The four finalists competing this year are Asa Maynard ’10, Ryan Hong ’09, Peter Conforti ’10, and last year’s winner Amy Gobel ’08.
This year’s speak-off will take place on February 20, 2008 at the final school meeting of the winter term. Titles for this year’s speeches are Screening the Screens by Maynard, Oil Spill Shock by Hong, Ugg, Ugg, Ugly by Conforti, and Culture Shock Therapy by Gobel.
The contest is named for former Choate teachers E. Stanley Pratt and H. Jeremy Packard, who were central figures in the public speaking tradition at Choate. Prizes will be awarded to all four finalists: the first place prize is $750, second is $500, third place is $300, and the fourth place prize is $200. In addition to the money, the name of the first place winner is inscribed on a silver bowl displayed in Hill House and the winner carries the title “Charles Krause Junior Fellow.”
Three faculty judges will determine the outcome of the competition, evaluating the speakers on substance and style. The style portion judged using public speaking instructor Zachary Goodyear’s acronym SPATE. ‘S’ stands for stance, ‘P’ for projection, ‘A’ for articulation, ‘T’ for tone, and ‘E’ for eye contact. Entrants to the contest submit a speech on a topic of their choice. In the past, contestants have spoken on topics ranging from impeaching a president to the mechanics of eating an Oreo cookie.
Both Maynard and Gobel confessed nervousness about going up to the podium and speaking in front of their peers and teachers.
“It’s hard having an audience of 850 peers that you know are watching and listening. Even though they’re not the judges, they’re thinking to themselves, ‘What’s this person like? And why are they giving this speech?’” Gobel said. She mentioned that she might have an upper-hand on the nervousness factor because of the performances she has done as a ballerina and as an actress in a couple of plays at Choate, but that experience can’t conquer nerves altogether. “I’m a little more comfortable onstage than someone who hasn’t been able to perform in front of large audiences. But there’s always that little moment of butterflies right before I take the podium,” she said. About how she gets over her nervousness, she said, “I just push my way through it. I have to keep in mind that the more anxious, nervous, and tense I get, the worse I’m going to be able to perform.”
Maynard on nerves: “I was already very nervous to give it in front of three judges. So now, when I am doing it in front of 850 other students, I will be extremely nervous.” On how he plans to handle the pressure: “I will be able to deal with my nervousness, because as my friend said, ‘All you have to do is focus on the speech, and not on your nervousness,’ and that is very true.”
Both contestants explained that they entered the contest because they are truly passionate about the topics they will speak on. They did not enter the contest for the title or the prizes, but instead for the opportunity to share their messages with the school. Gobel remarked, “I genuinely enjoyed writing it. And if I can get something out of doing something I enjoy, then it’s all the better.”
When asked about their expectations for this years’ competition, Gobel and Maynard responded similarly. Gobel stated, laughing, “I have no expectations this year. I mean, I won it last year, and that’s great. My name is on the bowl, it will always be there, and if I can win again this year, hey, I wouldn’t turn it down.” Maynard responded with a huge grin, saying simply, “I hope we all do well, but I hope I do the most well.”
Although the event is a competitive one, Mr. Goodyear’s main advice to the participants is to “have fun.”
