On Tuesday, February 21, Connor Zeitlin ’25 was selected as the 2023 Charles Krause Junior Fellow, a title given to the winner of the annual Pratt-Packard Declamation Contest. Zeitlin was distinguished amongst over 20 participants, including four finalists — Ivie Ojior ’24, Faer Son ’24, Connor Zeitlin ’25, and Vicky Grechukhina ’23, who delivered their speeches during School Meeting.
The contest, honoring former Choate dean and drama teacher, Mr. E. Stanley Pratt, and former Department Head of History, Mr. H. Jeremy Packard ’55, challenges fourth-, fifth-, and sixth-formers to train their public speaking skills with clarity of thought, confidence, and enthusiasm. Students who participate write a speech about anything they feel passionate about and want to share with the rest of the student body.
English teacher Mr. John Cobb facilitates the competition and oversees several rounds of voting. The first round consists of students submitting their speeches to a group of readers, as well as reading them to a panel of staff judges who decide upon the best eight pieces. In the second round, the semi-finalists present their speeches to a new set of judges. Finally, they are narrowed down to the four finalists.
Mr. Cobb describes the contest as vital to the Choate community because it “is an opportunity for students to say whatever they want in front of the entire school body, which I think is a privilege, and I think people understand it’s a privilege and they work hard at this.”
Zeitlin wrote his speech on his journey through a popular game called Dungeons & Dragons (D&D). Zeitlin found a strong passion for the game and believed he should tell his story to the School.
Ojior decided to enter the competition because she enjoys public speaking and connecting with the Choate community. She wrote about her favorite movie, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, and spoke about the impact the film had on her. In her speech, she expanded on the portrayal of femininity and women of color in the media. Ojior said, “I feel like it’s just something that resonated with me a lot, and I hope maybe other people will understand that too.”
One symbolic aspect of the contest is the student’s use of S.P.A.T.E: stance, projection, articulation, tone, and eye contact. When it comes to the similarities among the four finalists, Cobb said, “They first deal with the anxiety that speaking publicly naturally creates. Engaging your audience in a number of ways is, I think, an important thing.”
Participants appreciate the honor of recognition for their exceptional delivery. “I used to be a really shy kid. Over the years, I learned how much I could enjoy public speaking and eventually, it just became more natural and it helped in my confidence,” said Oijor. The contest is an opportunity to celebrate the confidence and courage of community members.
The Pratt-Packard Declamation Contest allows students to showcase their public speaking skills while delivering meaningful messages to the community. With participants challenged to present an original piece that is both personal and engaging, the opportunity is an highly-anticipated by students and faculty alike.
