For Graduation Day 2009 . . . send us the speech you’d like to give!

Young people today are living through a time of economic and world crisis. But crisis also gives birth to hope and opportunity. As Graduation Day approaches, WKCD invites you to raise your voice and let others know what matters most to you, in this moment and in the years ahead. Give it your best and you may be a winner, with your voice heard around the world!

DEADLINE: Entries must be received via email before midnight on May 18, 2009

PRIZES

• Each of the five best speech writers will receive a $100 gift certificate from Amazon.com and their speeches will appear on the website of What Kids Can Do, Inc. (www.whatkidscando.org).
• Honorable Mention speeches will appear on the website of What Kids Can Do, Inc. (www.whatkidscando.org).
• Winners will be announced on the website of What Kids Can Do in early June 2009.

GUIDELINES FOR SUBMISSION

Theme of your speech: “Crisis and hope in these trying times.” The best speeches will help us understand this theme from where you stand—your home and community, your worries and dreams. We look for simple, clear language in which your unique version of “crisis and hope” comes alive for your audience in this moment of transition—Graduation Day 2009.

Who can enter: Anyone from age 12 to 19, writing in English. (You don’t have to be an actual graduation speaker to submit your speech!)

Authorship: The speech must be your own work. Any words you include by someone else must be properly acknowledged.

Length: Your speech must consist of at least 300 words and no more than 600 words.

Format: Your speech must be typed. At the top of your speech, write:

• Your name
• Your date of birth
• Your school name and address
• Your grade in school
• Your email address
• Your telephone contact number.
• The name and contact information of one teacher at your school who can verify that the work is yours.

Permission to reprint: By submitting your speech, you agree that What Kids Can Do (WKCD) may publish all or part of your speech on its website and identify you as the writer.

Sending in your speech: Submit your speech before midnight on May 18, 2009, in one of two ways:
1. Copy and paste it into the body of an email message, then send it to gradspeech@whatkidscando.org
2. Attach your speech as a Word document to an email message, then send it to gradspeech@whatkidscando.org