NPSD Black History Oratorical Competition

 

Each year in celebration of black history month, NPSD students in grades three through 12 are invited to participate in the NPSD Black History Oratorical Competition (BHOC). Beginning in 2019, the competition is designed to give NPSD public school students an opportunity to shine through public speaking while honoring black history. To enter the contest, students are required to submit a video of themselves reciting a published speech or poem from an African-American or black leader such as Toni Morrison, Michelle Obama, Barack Obama, Malcolm X, Martin Luther King, Jesse Jackson, etc.

The BHOC culminates in a final competition round consisting of live, competitive and celebratory performances. The event serves not only as a chance for students to vie for the title of competition winner, but also provided North Penn students, families and community members the opportunity to celebrate black history through musical performances by students and staff.

Based on criteria including expression/stage presence, delivery and presentation, and overall effectiveness, student finalists are judged by a panel of diverse educators and community members. From the finalists selected to compete in the final round, one student from each level (elementary, middle and high) is chosen by judges as the winners of the competition. The three competition winners then go on to perform at the International Spring Festival held at North Penn High School.

 

NPSD 2025 Black History Oratorical Competition

In celebration of Black History, all North Penn students from grades 3-12 are invited to participate in this year's Black History Oratorical Competition. The competition is designed to give North Penn public school students an opportunity to shine through public speaking while honoring Black history. Students will recite published speeches or poems from an African-American or Black leader such as Maya Angelou, Michelle Obama, Malcolm X, Martin Luther King, Jesse Jackson, or others.

How do I sign up?

1. Interested students will recite their speech and submit the video by Friday, January 24th using this link. A committee will review each submission and select finalists for the district-wide competition.
2. Selected students from each level will present their speeches at a competition held at North Penn High School on Tuesday, February 27th from 6:00-8:00 pm.

Video submission will be selected based upon how students respect/honor Black History, and embody messages that inspire and uplift participants to continue towards progress; believing the impossible is possible. Remember: Black History is not just about slavery and the Civil Rights Movement. Strive to select oratory pieces that reflect the S.P.I.R.I.T. of the people throughout the African Diaspora:
S- Strength  P- Perseverance  I- Imagination  R- Responsibility  I- Integrity  T- Talent

If you require any special accommodations, please contact, Dr. D'Ana Waters, NPSD Assistant Superintendent, at [email protected]

For a complete list of rules and rubrics, click here.

2024 Competition Winners

 

Congratulations to the winners of the 2024 Black History Oratorical Competition!

Group 1 (Grades 3-4)

First Place - Kalani Glass- A Series of Gentle Reminders by Rudy Francisco
Second Place - Anishka Patel- excerpt from Michelle Obama's last official speech as first lady
Third place: Onumsinachi Madukaku-Okoro- I Have a Dream by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Group 2 (Grades 5-6)

First Place - Mukund Manikandan- Complainers by Rudy Francisco
Second Place - Rashmi Sankar- Ain't I A Woman by Sojourner Truth
Third Place - Saanvi Waghmare- Black Girl Magic by Lupita Nyong'o

Group 3 (Grades 7-8)

First Place - Erick Crawford- Speech at the March on Washington by John Lewis
Second Place - (TIE) Makayla Lewis- Beyonce's speech to the Class of 2020 & Ria Shankar- Excerpts from President Obama's 2016 speech for Black History Month
Third Place - Mollie Devine- Ain't I A Woman by Sojourner Truth

Group 4 (Grades 9-12)

First Place - Srijani Saha- When Woman Gets Her Rights, Man Will Be Right Sojourner Truth
Second Place - Cassandra Kim- Speech at the March on Washington by John Lewis
Third Place - Katie Caspar- Woman Work by Maya Angelou 

2023 Competition Winners

 

Congratulations to the winners of the 2023 Black History Oratorical Competition!
Click here for the 2023 Program

Group 1 (Grades 3-5)

First Place - Saanvi Waghmare, General Nash Elementary - Grade 5
Second Place - Pradhyun Srinivasan, Hatfield Elementary - Grade 5 

Group 2 (Grades 6-8)

First Place - Erick Crawford, Gwynedd Square Elementary - Grade 6
Second Place - Jyothi Anand, Bridle Path Elementary - Grade 6
Third Place - Ria Shankar, Montgomery Elementary - Grade 6 

Group 3 (Grades 9-12)

First Place - Vedika Deshpande, North Penn High School - Grade 10 
Second Place - Jalynn Grant, North Penn High School - Grade 11
Third Place - David Lyons, North Penn High School - Grade 12 

2022 Competition Winners

 

Congratulations to the winners of the 2022 Black History Oratorical Competition!
Click here for the 2022 Program

Group 1 Grades 4-5

Third Place - Peyton Jackson 5th Grade Montgomery Elementary
Second Place- Katherine Phillips 5th Grade Montgomery Elementary
First Place- Saanvi Waghmare 4th Grade General Nash Elementary School

Group 2 6-7

Third Place- Jeffrey Jimmy 6th Grade Gwynedd Square Elementary School
Second Place - Makayla Lewis 6th Grade General Nash Elementary School
First Place- Tatyana Pometum 6th Grade Gwyn-Nor Elementary School

Group 3 8-12

Third Place- Kairee Glass 10th Grade NPHS
First Place- David Lyons 11th Grade NPHS
First Place- Dominique Bethel 12th Grade NPHS

View photos from 2022 Black History Oratorical Final Competition

2020 Competition Winners

 

Congratulations to high school division winner Dominique Bethel on her moving performance of “Still, I Rise” by Maya Angelo. Pennfield Middle School’s Kairee Glass took the middle school division with his strong reading of “The Heart and the Fist” by Rudy Francisco. The elementary division was captured by Royel Hall at Oak Park Elementary School for his portrayal of Muhammed Ali’s speech, “I Am the Greatest.” NPSD would like to congratulate the division winners and also recognize middle school runner-up LeRoy Hall from Penndale Middle School and elementary runner-up Tatyana Pometun from Gwyn-Nor Elementary School.

View photos from 2020 Black History Oratorical Final Competition