The Rotary Club of Oakland #3 Proudly Presents
The Richard D. King Annual Youth Speech Contest 2026
CASH PRIZES TOTALING MORE THAN $25,000†
Questions? Please Email Oakland.Rotary.Speech.2026@gmail.com
Rotary Club of Oakland #3 - the ‘#3’ indicating its status as the third-oldest Rotary Club in the world - proudly invites high school students in grades 9-12 to compete in the Richard D. King Annual Youth Speech Contest.
The Youth Speech Contest offers more than $25,000† in total cash prizes, real-world public speaking experience, resume-building recognition, and awards. Participation also means the opportunity to meet and network with a diverse community of business, nonprofit, professional, and civic leaders.
About Rotary of Oakland #3: Rotary Club of Oakland #3 is part of Rotary International. ROC3was founded in 1908 and has over 250 members. In the 2024-2025 period, ROC3:
- Awarded $26,000 in scholarships
- Supported 83 TK teachers with gift cards, classroom furniture, and field trips
- Empowered 74 high school students through Enterprise Institute leadership retreats
- Carried out 12 global projects on five continents, impacting 25,000+ people with clean water, medical equipment, and refugee relief
- Raised $35,000 for Food Security, supporting six organizations addressing hunger in Oakland
About Rotary International: RI is a network of more than 46,000 Rotary clubs and 1.4 million Rotarians - friends, leaders, and problem-solvers who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change – across the globe, in our communities, and within ourselves. We are non-political and non-religious.
Youth Speech Contest Schedule and Prizes:
The YSC consists of four levels, each offering its own awards. The winner(s) of each level advance to the next level.
| Oakland Rotary Club (Club Level) February 26, 2026 Oakland, CA Lunch Provided |
Area Level March 19, 2026 Fremont, CA |
Regional Level April 1, 2026 Livermore, CA |
District Final Level April 11, 2026 Freemont, CA |
| First: $250 Second: $150 Participation (2): $75* |
First: $300 Second: $150 Participation: $50* |
Winners (2): $700* Participation (2): $300* |
First: $3,000 Second: $1500 Participation (2): $750* |
*Each
Speech Time, Theme, and Topic
Time: Speeches are to be between four and five (4-5) minutes in length. (If longer or shorter, penalty points will be deducted.)
Theme: Service Above Self. The theme must be clearly identified in the speech, but need not be the topic of the speech.
Topic and Content: Contestants may choose any topic they feel is timely and of interest. However, all speakers must
- Relate their topic to the theme of Service Above Self
- Incorporate all four principles of the Rotary Four Way Test
- Is it the TRUTH?
- Is it FAIR to all concerned?
- Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
- Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?
Note: The speech does not need to include the principles exactly as written above; however, it does need to incorporate the values associated with each principle clearly.
Eligibility and Participation
- Click Here To Register
- Questions? Email Oakland.Rotary.Speech.2026@gmail.com
- Applications must be received by February 2, 2026.
- The YSC is open to students in grades 9 through 12 who attend a local public, private, or home high school within Alameda, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, and San Benito counties.
- RCO3has a limited capacity to accept contestants. Contestants will be entered in the order their completed applications are received. Should interest exceed capacity, RCO3will refer students to other Rotary Clubs in their area that offer a speech contest.
- A parent, teacher, or legal guardian must accompany students.
- If a contestant who has won advancement becomes unable to compete at the next level, the runner-up in the original contest will be allowed to compete.
- Students may compete in only one club-level competition. Once a student participates at one club, they are ineligible to compete at another club. For example, you could not compete at both the Oakland and Piedmont Rotary Clubs.
Other Rules
- The speech must be the original work of the contestant. The creation of the content must be consistent with The Rotary Four-Way Test.
- At the club level only, contestants may use a smart device to glance at their notes or one 3”x5” notecard. After the club level (Area, Region, District), notes may be used only if they are on one 3” x 5” card.
- Props, displays, or prompters are never allowed at any level.
- Speakers may not identify themselves or their school until the contest has ended and they are explicitly invited to do so. This includes implicit or explicit identification in speech content or title, in the attire of the contestant, or by any other means whatsoever.
The above is a summary of the rules. A full set of rules and other information will be sent together with registration materials.
†Cash awards given by all participating clubs within Alameda, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, and San Benito counties and at the Area, Regional, and District levels will total more than $25,000.
