New World Champion of Public Speaking
August 16, 2008
2008-2009 International Speech Contest Winners
LaShunda Rundles, a Toastmaster and motivational speaker in Dallas, Texas, emerged victorious and claimed the title of 2008 World Champion of Public Speaking. Her speech, “Speak!”, encouraged people to use their voices to change the world. Rundles is excited about being the first African-American woman – and only the fourth woman, ever – to win this prestigious competition. She plans to continue changing the world and hopes to become the national spokesperson for the Lupus Foundation of America. As a lupus survivor, she says she feels particularly qualified to speak on behalf of other patients.
Growing up in a small Texas town created unique challenges and opportunities for Rundles. Her parents were both educators, and when her mother discovered that her precocious daughter was reading at age three – and misbehaving out of boredom – she challenged the little girl to memorize 25 children’s books. Reciting these led to public speaking, and Rundles gave her first solo presentation in front of a convention at age five. Her winning speech in the World Championship competition discussed her mother’s strong guidance through this early juncture in her life.
Second- and third-place winners in the World Championship of Public Speaking were Loghandran Krishnasamy of Puchong, Malaysia, with his speech “Finding the Rythm” and Katherine Morrison of West Roxbury, Massachusetts, with her speech “Baby, Don’t Believe Them.”
World Championship of Public Speaking Contestants
Congratulations to each of the following contestants who placed among the top ten public speakers in the world!
Region I
Rich Hopkins
Club 719
|
Region II
Robert Mackenzie
Club 638
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Region III
LaShunda Rundles
Club 4533
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Region IV
Martin Pressé
Club 1432
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Region V
Colin William
Club 4358
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Region VI
Charles J. Wilson
Club 7132 |
Region VII
Katherine Morrison
Club 4735 |
Region VIII
Henry Flowers
Club 2500 |
DNAR A
Jock Elliot
Club 2572 |
DNAR B
Loghandran Krishnasamy
Club 220 |
International Taped Speech Contest Winners
Our compliments on your simply amazing taped speeches! Dwight Cummings of Kingston, Jamaica, won first place for his speech titled "Find Your Passion, Live Your Life." Radjeep Manwani of Bangalore Karnataka, India, won Second Place for "The World's Oldest and Strongest Emotion." And Third Place went to William Wang of Shanghai, China for his speech titled "Try Your Best To Be Your Best.”
View a list of past and current World Champions