Virginia State Wide Student Oratory Competition – 10 April 2026

In commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Declaration of Independence, UVA’s Karsh Institute of Democracy, UVA250, and UVA’s Office of the President hosted the inaugural statewide “A Nation at 250” student oratory contest, in partnership with the Virginia Museum of History and Culture and VA250.  

This inaugural Virginia State Wide event was an expansion the successful UVA oratory event which the Charlottesville Branch of the ESU continues to support.  The contest was open to Virginia undergraduate students currently enrolled in a two or four year college or university in the Commonwealth.

Dozens of students applied and seven were invited to participate in the finals in Richmond at the Virginia Museum of History and Culture.  The Charlottesville Branch would like thank members, Faye Cunningham, Georgia Clapham and Jerry Keifer, who served as judges to student submissions to help narrow the wide field down to the 7 finalists (each submission was a written speech and a recorded video presentation).   

The “Richmond Team” of our Charlottesville Branch, Jane and David Abbott, were kind enough to represent the Branch by attending this Oration Contest.  Charlottesville Branch member, Mary Kate Cary, was one of UVA sponsors and served as a finalist judge.  The winner of the inaugural event was Jason Zheng from William & Mary.