What is the Student Speakers Competition?   Student Speakers Competition is for youth in grades   10 - 12 and is designed to encourage growth toward Christian maturity.  Teens are challenged to think seriously about their commitment to Christ.  Student Speakers Competition helps teenagers express their faith verbally.  It demands

Morningside Baptist Church

Bible Buddies

Children's Bible Drill

Youth Bible Drill

High School Bible Drill

Adult Bible Drill

serious time and effort but the pay-off is tremendous.  Youth grow spiritually when engaged in the research, study, prayer, and practice of preparing a speech.  If a church does not have a Youth Discipleship Program, youth may participate in the tournament with the help of an adult church member.  

Speech Topic - Each year a list of speech topics for the Student Speakers Competition is published.  Participants in the tournament may choose one of the titles listed or use their own. For those students in Georgia, go to dm.gabaptist.org  (Please note: these topics change yearly and may vary from state to state.  Be sure to check with your state association to get a current list of topics). 

Student Speakers Competition Rules

Speakers will prepare a four to six minute speech on a topic chosen from the current list of official titles.  Speeches must be the work of the individual speaker.  Plagiarism or having the speech or any major portion of it written by someone other than the speaker is grounds for disqualification.  The purpose of the speech may be to inform, inspire, persuade, or create concern.

Student Speakers Competition focuses on the speaking ability of students.   Music and drama are not considered "speech" and should be avoided.   It is appropriate to quote part of a song, poem, or play, but not to perform these.   Speakers should strive to be creative in their speeches, using tools such as stories, vocal variation, clever phrasing, and personal experiences.

Speakers are encouraged to use a variety of sources for their research.  Brief quotations are appropriate with the author and location of the quotations cited in the speech.  Information (quoted or not quoted) gleaned from any source should be footnoted (endnotes or parenthetical references are acceptable) in the final manuscript.  A bibliography for all quoted sources is required.

For more information

For more information, such as helpful suggestions, criteria for judging, and information on local, associational, regional, and state tournament requirements, please contact your local state association.  In Georgia, contact:

                                        Discipleship Ministries
                                        Georgia Baptist Convention
                                        6405 Sugarloaf Parkway 
                                        Duluth, GA 30097 
                                        770.455.0404 - 800.746.4422


*information on this page was taken from Student Speakers Competition information produced by Discipleship Ministries of the Georgia Baptist Convention.