Spring Woodbury Speaking Contest Engages Chapel

The spring edition of the Woodbury Public Speaking Contest provided a riveting set of speeches for students and faculty gathered in the Hamilton Chapel. Named for former Parents Association president Glen P. Woodbury, the Woodbury Public Speaking Prize was established in 1956 under the sponsorship of Belmont Hill’s literary magazine The Sextant. Open to any Upper Schooler, the Woodburys offer the boys the opportunity to write and deliver a speech on a topic of their choice, based on their personal experiences and interests.

With a range of researched insights and heartfelt personal stories, the finalists revealed their true character through their speeches. From investigating the value of test taking, to discovering the joys of growing up in a house full of sisters, to making meaningful connections through phone banking, to crafting a lasting personal legacy, to suffering through the heartbreak of Buffalo Bills fandom, the students used their honest reflections to pass on what they’ve learned to the larger community. 

The finalists included Ikem Anyanwu ’28, Topher Batchelder ’26, Alex Chen ’27, Ryan Ho ’28, Ari Itzkovits ’28, and Charlie Maws ’26. Special congratulations to the winner of the contest Ikem Anyanwu, who shared his experience with nicknames, the ones he gave himself and the ones thrust upon him, the ones that stuck and the ones he really wished hadn’t. With honest writing and sharp humor, Ikem encouraged his peers to not let one name define them.