Published March 3, 2026
BY CLAIRE DEIPARINE
Carmel High School’s Interact Club is bringing student voices, service and a touch of friendly competition to The Carmel Foundation on March 11 as members compete in the annual Interact Speech Contest, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Carmel-by-the-Sea.
CHS students at last year’s Interact speech contest, standing with winner Grace Xu (middle), after they recited their speeches on community service. Photo by BRUCE DINI
The contest will feature students delivering three- to four-minute speeches centered on this year’s theme, “How can we unite for good?” Fifty Rotary members will judge the speeches based on content, organization and delivery, looking for strong emotional appeal as students take the spotlight to highlight the importance of community service using real-world examples.
Prizes are on the line, but the contest is about more than winning. It offers a chance for students to speak about causes they care about while practicing skills they work to develop every day in the classroom.
“It’s a great opportunity for students to put into play what they’re learning in school,” says Interact advisor Bruce Dini, who has been involved in the club for five years. “They learn how to organize their thoughts and make an argument, so this is great practice in front of a live audience.”
Dini highlights that the speeches that stand out most are the ones that feel genuine.
“They’re very personal,” he says. “The best speeches connect with the audience through the speaker’s own experiences and why community service matters to them.”
Sophomore Grace Xu experienced that connection last year when she won the contest with a speech about how small acts of service through Interact can lead to meaningful change in the community. Now, as co-president of the club alongside fellow sophomore Choice Muivah, Xu helps encourage other students to find their voice.
“Writing a speech on something that you are passionate about doesn’t take as long as you may think,” Xu explains.
From the 20 members of the Interact club, six CHS students will compete in the upcoming March contest, with the winners advancing to the Rotary District final against students from other local schools on March 28.
According to Rotary adviser Rob Slawinski, the club’s focus on service is central to its mission.
“The Carmel High Rotary Interact club is a great way to learn how students can get better involved in serving our community,” Slawinski says. “A core value of the Interact Club is Rotary’s motto, ‘Service Above Self,’ which encourages empathy, responsibility and the value of helping others.”
All speakers will receive prize money, with first place earning $350, second place $150 and each remaining participant receiving $100. By the end of the event, students won’t just have competed–they’ll have shared stories, ideas and a reminder that doing good often starts with speaking up.
