Destination College Speech Contest 2023
Contest Details
When is Destination College?
The 24th Annual Destination College Event will take place on Saturday, March 25, 2023 (snow date Sunday, March 26, 2023) on the Plymouth State University campus. The winner of the contest must be available on this date and is expected to be present at the event.
Who Can Enter?
The DC Speech Contest is open to all college-bound New Hampshire high school public, private, or homeschool seniors. Candidates must be available to participate on each date listed below.
2023 DC Speech Contest Winner
Gage Tlapa
Gage is a senior at Milford High School. He loves listening to music, spending time with friends and family, and going to the gym. Gage has not decided where he will attend college in the fall. Wherever he attends, he plans to study data analytics because he loves to interpret situations and solve problems!
How to Submit Your Speech
All entrants will be required to upload a video of yourself performing your speech. Speeches should be 3-5 minutes long. All speeches must be uploaded to YouTube, and the link needs to be provided with your entry. Entrants are expected to show themselves in the video, and state their first and last name before presenting their speech. If you have questions about the contest, please email us at collegeplanning@nhheaf.org!
What Should You Talk About?
Your keynote speech should be about your college planning and application experience. You will be speaking to high school juniors from around the state to share your best college planning advice and tips, and what you wish you knew when you were in their shoes! Share your strategies, what worked, and what you might have done differently. Is there anything that you didn’t expect? What did you learn that a current high school junior should know? Remember that your insight will help prepare the junior class for what’s down the road.
Your speech will help set the tone for the day ahead – so be inspirational, informative or funny (or all of these things!). Please refrain from describing a step-by-step to-do list in your speech. Your goal is to capture the attention and interest of your listeners with your stories and energy!
The winner will be notified by Friday, March 10, 2023 and will be required to read his/her speech during Destination College on Saturday, March 25, 2023. Entries will be judged on content (ability to communicate primary messages), relevance to the target audience, originality, creativity, and artistic and technical proficiency.
What Can You Win?
The winner of the Destination College Speech Contest receives a $5,000 scholarship.
One runner up receives a $1,500 scholarship.
3rd and 4th place each receive a $500 scholarship.