Grace set to have her say

Grace’s winning speech on the topic “Spend or save? The answer to the recession” won her the Lurgan club’s heat and one of only 15 coveted positions in the final.

The final takes place on Saturday, in Belfast High School.

Jackie Gilmour, Regional President, Soroptimist International, said: “This competition has been running for over a quarter of a century and continues to seek to widen young women’s horizons by encouraging them to meet and develop invaluable skills in the art of communication.

"At the final, as well as delivering a prepared speech Grace will deliver an extempore speech without research. All the speeches will be judged on content, presentation, delivery and impact.

“The competition is specifically designed to target female Year 12 and 13 students who are in full time education in Northern Ireland. Soroptimist International’s partnership on this project with Progressive Building Society has proved beneficial in raising awareness of our competition and increasing entries over the past four years.”

Dr Joan Smyth, chairman of the Progressive Building Society, said; “As Northern Ireland’s largest locally owned mortgage lender, Progressive is delighted to support this competition which is held in high regard amongst local educational establishments. I’m looking forward to hearing the speeches, which I know from attending previous finals, are of an exceptionally high standard. I’m regularly inspired by the young women and look forward to hearing what they have to say.”

At the Final, the winner will receive the Soroptimist Youth Award Perpetual Salver, a bursary award of 250 towards her education, and an invitation to deliver a speech at the Soroptimist International joint conference in Athlone from May 7 to 9. The winner’s school will also receive a 150 book token.