Speech Contest Finalists

We are excited to announce the finalists for the "What Can I Do for Peace" Speech Contest. All of them are students from Hawaiʻi Technology Academy. This is due mainly to the dedicated efforts of their teachers to incorporate these speeches into their school year and to prepare their students to participate. Thank you to the teachers who assisted our contestants in submitting speeches!

Grand Prize Finalist: Emma Baksic

Finalists: Trey Timmons

                 Kailie Theler

Finalist Alternate: Jared Anderson

General Contest Information

What: As part of our 80th Anniversary of the End of WWII Commemoration Events, the Battleship Missouri Memorial hosted a speech contest for students (Grades 8-11). The prompt and awards are directly below, along with additional information further below:

Prompt:

At the end of the ceremony to end World War II on September 2, 1945, held aboard USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay, Japan; General Douglas MacArthur said “Let us pray that peace be now restored to the world…” Now, 80 years later, that peace is being tested throughout the world. In a well-written, rehearsed speech of about 3 minutes in length, answer the question: “What can I do for peace? What Can I Actively Do to Cultivate a Peaceful Society?” and share what you can and will do for peace and the promotion of peace in our community. Give examples of your commitment to peace in our world and for our time.

Recording of speech must be 3 minutes long, including student’s image and audio of good quality. 

Prizes:

Grand Prize

• Opportunity to read winning speech at 80th Anniversary - Commemorating the End of WWII on September 2
• VIP Tickets for 10 to the 80th anniversary End of WWII Commemoration Ceremony on September 2
• Speech published in commemorative 80th anniversary program

Top 3 Finalists

• VIP Tour passes for winner and up to 9 guests (to tour the Mighty Mo at a time and date of their choice)
• Feature on the ussmissouri.org page of student and speech
• Featured on the Battleship Missouri Memorial social media channels as a Student Peace Ambassador
• Invitation to the 80th anniversary of the End of WWII Commemoration Ceremony on September 2
• Author Signed copy of Pearl Harbor Child (Dorinda Nicholson)

Who: Private, public, or charter school students, Grades 8-11*, associated with school on Oahu and with a teacher that can assist in preparing their speech. 

When: The contest was open for submissions until April 25, 2025. Finalist students were notified and have now been announced above.
 

Peace Speech Contest Teacher and Student Resource

Email education@ussmissouri.org for more information.