VT Seva Detroit’s 9th Annual Public Speaking Workshop & Speech Showdown 5.0

"The power of speech is not just in words spoken, but in the confidence built and the lives touched along the way." 

The 9th Annual Public Speaking Workshop & Competition organized by VT Seva Detroit, in collaboration with Speaking Masters’ Speech Showdown 5.0, was a remarkable celebration of confidence, creativity, and compassion. This annual initiative continues to inspire young minds to find their voice, while supporting a meaningful cause: the education of students at Nethra Vidyalaya.

This year’s event brought together talented students from multiple grade levels who showcased their communication skills, thoughtful ideas, and stage confidence through the Prepared Speech Competition. Each speech reflected not only strong preparation but also courage, determination, and the willingness to express ideas that matter.

Speech Showdown 5.0 – Prepared Speech Winners

Grades 3–5 Category

🥇 1st Place: Isha Dahdania

🥈 2nd Place: Aviraj Singh

🥉 3rd Place: Sri Vasudha Vundi

Grades 6–7 Category

🥇 1st Place: Shreyanshi Singh

🥈 2nd Place: Arnav Acharya

🥉 3rd Place: Shrihan Vennapusa

Grades 8–10 Category

🥇 1st Place: Dhruthi Tadimalla

🥈 2nd Place: Sriya Kuppa

🥉 3rd Place: Da Sung Chung

Each winner stood as an example of dedication and perseverance, proving that public speaking is not just about delivering words, but about sharing ideas with confidence and purpose.

 New This Year: Essay Writing Competition

Adding another meaningful dimension to the program, an Essay Writing Competition was introduced for the first time this year. This new category encouraged students to express their creativity and critical thinking through the written word, offering a platform for thoughtful storytelling and structured expression.

Essay Writing Winners

Grades 6–8 Category

🥇 Sriya Kuppa (Trophy Winner)

🥈 Adhip Pisipati (Trophy Winner)

Grades 9–10 Category

🥇 Aishwarya Pasuparthi (Medal Winner)

The addition of essay writing highlighted the importance of communication in all forms, spoken and written, while nurturing analytical thinking and imagination.

Thanks to all the participants, parents and volunteers for supporting this event.

We are grateful to Mr. Raju Brahmandhabheri for his continued support for VT Seva Detroit & Nethra Vidyalaya Schools & Mr. Gaurav Talwar for being a judge at this competition. We are thankful to Ms. Meenakshi Viswananda for her support with Essay Writing Competition.

Mr. Raju Brahmandhabheri is passionate about public speaking and communication skills and has been part of Toastmasters International (the platform to improve Public speaking and leadership skills) for the last 10 plus years and achieved the DTM(Distinguished Toastmasters) award- the highest educational award in the Toastmasters program. To pursue his passion for teaching public speaking and communication skills to youths, he founded Speaking Masters LLC, a public speaking and communication skills coaching institute. He has been receiving 5-star ratings from both students and parents for his public speaking classes. He is a mentor for high school students to coach/advise/prepare them for the annual Leadership Speech Contest hosted by the National Management Association (NMA). He has also served as a judge on DECA States, various speech contests at Toastmasters and community organization’s educational competitions (public speaking, spelling bee, etc.). By profession, he is an Electrical Engineer currently working as a Senior Regional Engineering Manager at ITC Holdings Corp., Novi, Michigan.

Gaurav Talwar is working as Sr. Product Manager - Voice Techologies, General Motors-OnStar. Gaurav has PhD in Electrical Engineering and MBA in Strategic Management. Gaurav has written several defensive publications, conference papers and been awarded with 50+ patents so far. Gaurav presented at several platforms and compeered at several events at work and academics.

Meenakshi Viswanadha is a high school senior from New Jersey and an incoming student at Johns Hopkins University. She has been competing at NorthSouth since middle school and won first place in the NorthSouth Essay Writing competition in 2022. Outside of NorthSouth, she has received distinctions from various reputable organizations, including Scholastic, The Adroit Journal, The American Library of Poetry, and the Sringeri Vidya Bharathi Foundation. In the Summer of 2024, she developed the NorthSouth Learning Journey Creative Writing course and established the annual Learning Journey Impromptu Essay Writing/Creative Writing Competition. She currently leads the Essay Writing and Creative Writing departments at NorthSouth. Meenakshi will be attending Johns Hopkins University in the fall.

Beyond the competition and awards, the heart of this event lies in its mission. Proceeds from the workshop and competition directly support Nethra Vidyalaya students, helping provide education, resources, and opportunities for visually challenged students to pursue their dreams.

Every speech delivered and every essay written contributed to a greater purpose, empowering students through education and compassion.

Thank you!

We are deeply grateful to all youth and adult volunteers who made our 9th Annual Public Speaking Competition a resounding success! With all of your support through registrations, donations and pledges were able to raise funds to support 6 students education for one whole year. From setting up the venue to the final cleanup, your dedication and teamwork were the backbone of this event. Thank you for bringing water, coffee, and snacks to keep everyone refreshed and energized throughout the day.

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Blog Written By: Priya Jaisankar