Oratorical Contest

2024-2025 Key Club International Oratorical Contest: Rules

1. The subject for all orations will be determined ahead of time and distributed to clubs via email and news stories on keyclub.org.

2. The first-place orator from each Key Club district will be eligible to compete in the International Oratorical Contest. A video is required in the entry form for international competition. If a district does not hold a contest to determine its first- place orator, the district may select an orator by other means and certify them with the district administrator’s signature. Orators located within a non-districted area should email the entry form and a video of their speeches to Key Club International, keyclubinfo@kiwanis.org, to enter the competition.

3. The content and presentation of the oration must be original and completely developed by each orator. Content and presentation will be considered equally in judging.

4. Each orator will be allowed a maximum of five (5) minutes for their presentation. Exceeding the time limit by 10 seconds or more will result in a penalty unless extenuating circumstances exist.

5. Video submissions must be continuously filmed; separate clips edited together are not permitted.

6. Each orator must be a member of a Key Club in good standing with Key Club International.

7. Judging and awarding points will be based on the following criteria:

8. SPEECH–50 Points 

   • Clarity of message and projection of ideas - 15 Points

   • Depth - 5 Points

   • Originality - 15 Points 

   • Structure (including organization, grammar, transitions, flow, etc.) - 15 Points 

9. DELIVERY–50 Points 

   • Presence (posture, gestures, and ability to engage the audience) - 15 Points 

   • Voice (tone, diction, effectiveness, pronunciation) - 15 Points 

   • Ease of presentation and intimacy with audience - 15 Points 

   • Attention to the audience - 5 Points 

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District Oratorical Contest Rules

1. Any Key Club wishing to enter one of its members into the Oratorical Contest must submit the below entry form (coming soon) no later than Friday, April 4, 2025 at 10:00 p.m. in person at DECON or using the online submission form linked below. Each Key Club may only enter once.

2. Oratorical contestants will audition on Saturday, April 5, 2025 at a time listed in the conference program. Contestants who will not be present at DECON may audition over that time period via Zoom. The District will not accept pre-recorded videos.

3. Entries must include a completed Entry Form and be submitted using the below form by April 5, 2025 at 10:00 p.m.

4. The first place winner will be invited to deliver their speech during the recognition session on the Saturday of DECON. The speech delivered must be the same as the audition speech.

5. The District will video record the first place orator's speech during the recognition session and submit it to Key Club International for competition in the Key Club International Oratorical Contest.