Fairfax Collegiate
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Public Speaking Workshop & Contest

Find Your Voice, Take the Stage

Find Your Voice, Take the Stage is a free event for 3rd-6th grade students who want to explore the world of public speaking. Participants can attend a 2-hour workshop, sign up for a time slot to compete in the public speaking contest, or do both.

This event is a fun and supportive way for students to build confidence, strengthen communication skills, and share their ideas with an audience. The workshop includes engaging activities that teach the basics of public speaking. In the contest, students deliver short speeches based on a thoughtful prompt, with a chance to earn recognition. Whether your child is new to public speaking or already love the spotlight, this event gives them a spin in the spotlight.

Parents are also welcome during the event. Fairfax Collegiate's team of Directors will be on-site a meet-and-greet/QA/walking tour in the first 20 minutes of the event. Parents are also invited as audience members in the competition room.

Founded in 1993, Fairfax Collegiate is Northern Virginia’s academic enrichment provider, serving thousands of students each year through our popular summer program. Join us this summer and experience the joy of learning with Fairfax Collegiate.

Workshop Details

  • The workshop portion of the event is an informal, classroom-based seminar that teaches students the basics of public speaking. The first half of the workshop covers the primary components of a successful speech: voice, body language, expression, organization, and confidence. Instructors provide students with examples, instruction, and coaching in each of these elements. In the second half, students choose a topic of interest to practice the speechwriting and delivery process from start to finish, with feedback and assistance provided by instructors.
  • For the workshop portion of the event, students will be divided into a 3rd-4th grade group and a 5th-6th grade group.
  • The workshop is primarily designed for students who have not had prior instruction or experience with public speaking, but is also open to students who do have prior experience.

Contest Details

  • Competitors will select one of the follow topics for their speech:
    1. Identify a problem in your community that you'd like to solve, and propose a solution.
    2. What's something all students should learn in school - but don't?
    3. Is it a good or bad idea for schools to provide every student with their own laptop?
  • Speeches should last between 3 and 4 minutes.
  • Competitors must sign up for a specific timeslot in order to compete. A link to choose your timeslot will be sent out via email 2-3 days before the event.
  • Competitors should arrive 10 minutes prior to their scheduled time. Fairfax Collegiate will attempt to accommodate competitors who arrive late, but this cannot be guaranteed.
  • Competitors may use note pages or note cards, but may not use any presentation aids such as posters or digital slideshows.
  • A judging rubric will be provided to competitors.
  • The top-scoring student in each grade level will receive a $100 Fairfax Collegiate gift certificate.

Additional Details

  • Location: Loudoun School for Advanced Studies (address: 20577 Ashburn Road / Ashburn, VA 20147)
  • Date: April 12, 2025
  • The workshop portion of the event will be from 9:30am to 11:30am, with a short supervised break at 10:30.
  • The competition portion of the event will be 5-minute timeslots between 10:00am and 12:30pm.
  • There is no cost to attend, and all materials will be provided by Fairfax Collegiate.
  • Workshop courses are taught by Fairfax Collegiate Summer Program staff members.

How to Register

To sign up for this event, simply fill out the interest form below. Please note that space is limited and submitting the form does not guarantee you a seat. After submitting the form, please watch your email for an update from our team (we will begin sending confirmation emails 2-3 days before the event).

The registration deadline is 48 hours before the start of the event.

If the number of responses exceeds the program's capacity, we will add you onto a waitlist and let you know if a seat becomes available for your child.

About Fairfax Collegiate

This summer your child can have fun and learn!

Since 1993, the Fairfax Collegiate Summer Program has provided challenging and engaging courses in academics, STEM, and creative arts.

Small classes are available both in-person at locations throughout Northern Virginia, and online via Zoom. Courses are built around creative activities that are captivating and entertaining, as well as informative.

Summer Program instructors include undergraduate and graduate students at leading universities, as well as area public and private school teachers. Over 4,000 students attend Fairfax Collegiate programs each year.

For more information about Fairfax Collegiate, check out our Summer Program course pages and our FAQ.