August 5, 2007

Arizona High School Senior Wins Global Water Crisis Speech Competition – WaterAid Meeting Next and Backstage with Music Superstars “The Police”

Los Angeles, CA...The Words That Shook The World National High School Public Speaking Summer “Fantasy” Camp – a program designed to showcase the power of oratory in America’s young people and discuss important issues, has announced Katie Radosevic, a senior at Verde Valley School, Sedona, Arizona, as the winner of its Global Water Crisis speaking competition.  Ms. Radosevic’s winning speech addressed the global water crisis by asking listeners to imagine a life without water and how more than one billion wake up each day without clean water. The high school senior challenged all to write their public representatives to address the issue and support WaterAid and other international efforts to eliminate this growing problem.

                    

Created by noted public speaking consultant and nationally recognized author Richard H. Greene, the summer camp program is part of the 2nd Annual Words That Shook The World National High School Public Speaking Competition. Launched last month, the camp – held on line and by conference call – was created to address critical issues such as the global water crisis, the importance of science and technology and diversity. The global water crisis was the first topic addressed by high school students during the six week program.

For her first place finish, Ms. Radosevic is awarded a VIP trip to New York City to meet with Richard Greene, Water Aid executives and attend an August 5th concert by “The Police” at Giants Stadium. The Police, the legendary rock group formed in 1977 by Sting, Stewart Copeland and Andy Summers, and now reunited and conducting a world tour, is supporting WaterAid – the London-based organization whose mission is to overcome poverty by enabling the world’s poorest people to gain access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene education. The 2nd Annual National High School Public Speaking Competition has partnered with WaterAid and The Police as part of its oratory program. In addition, Ms. Radosevic’s message will be promoted through WaterAid to the international media.

“We congratulate Katie on her speech,” says Founder Richard Greene. “In her winning speech, she challenged us to find a solution to this terrible problem that confronts so many millions and she did it in a compelling, focused and moving way.” The competition – free and open to every high school student in America – is designed, says Greene, “to enhance students’ oratory skills, leadership, critical thinking and ethical decision-making abilities, and to help furnish the skills needed to be of service to others.”

“I am honored and excited to have taken first place in the summer camp competition,” says Ms. Radosevic. “This competition allowed me to share my views and encourage people to be more conscious about this important issue while also enhancing my public speaking skills.” In addition to public speaking, Ms. Radosevic’s is involved with 4-H, playing the mandolin and also operating her own goat milk soap business. Her business serves the Sedona area and also national customers. She is the daughter of Patti Marrs and Rod Radosevic.

More than 100,000 high school students are expected to participate in the summer camp and the national speaking competition. The national competition which follows the special summer camp, beings on August 27. Students can enroll in the public speaking summer camp, learn more about critical issues, and obtain complete information about the fall competition by visiting www.wordsthatshooktheworld.com.

“Katie joins a growing list of talented high school speakers,” says Richard Green. Last year, 10 high school student leaders, chosen as finalists from over 8,000 high schools in all 50 states participated in the first Words That Shook The World contest, including Ms. Radosevic. “This year,” Greene reports, “we have added the summer public speaking camp and expanded the competition and we are rolling it out to every high school student in America.”

For the national competition, participating high school students will submit three-minute “My Message for America” speeches through the competition’s website. Students will be encouraged to address any issue of interest including the water challenge, poverty, the environment, leadership, politics, or world affairs to name a few. The entries will be reviewed and judged by thousands of on-line judges. The national competition finals will be held November 24 in Washington, DC where 10 students will vie for the first place award, a four-year college scholarship valued at $40,000. Students, parents and teachers are encouraged to visit the website for complete competition details.

All high school students are encouraged to participate in the camp and competition. The program is being promoted to high school principals, teachers, service organizations and the employees of corporations. National sponsors include Lockheed Martin, Sandia National Laboratories, Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership, The History Channel, Celebrity Cruises, Communities in Schools, The Dalio Family Foundation, Michelman & Robinson LLP and Bragman Nyman Cafarelli.

Organization Executive Director Chris McCarty reports “the competition’s mission is to help revive the wonderful tradition of great oratory in America and to help young people learn how to stand up without fear and speak from their heart, like the greatest speakers who have touched mankind.”

For more information, visit www.wordsthatshooktheworld.com or call 310-273-5787.

Would you like to read another article on Katie Radosevic? Click here to see what a newspaper in Sedona, AZ had to say.