Rahul wins regional contest to compete nationally
Image Credit: Diana Velasquez-munoz
Ask freshman Rahul Srinivas what he’s looking forward to this summer and he’ll show you an ear-to-ear smile before proudly answering, “California weather...and competition.”
Sure enough, the vice-president of the university’s new speech and debate society at the IAA captured the title of state champion at last week’s WCTU state oratory contest held in Jonestown, PA. That title won Srinivas an August sojourn to Sacramento, California, where he will represent the University of Maryland and vie for the crown of national oratory victor.
To help promote student speaking skills, the IAA initiated and advises the University of Maryland Speech and Debate Society. In March, the IAA hosted its first contest, which Srivivas won and qualified to compete in Jonestown.
“This isn’t exactly surprising to me,” beams speech coach Nina LaTassa. “Rahul has spent countless hours in my office practicing that speech. When he told me he was going to win, he was serious about it.”
Traveling with Srinivas for moral support last week was fellow speech team comrade Philip Chen, who serves as student liaison for the group. Chen, who dutifully came to the competition armed with a video recorder, tripod, and camera, couldn’t think of a better way to spend a Tuesday afternoon.
“It was wonderful watching Rahul do so well,” smiles Chen. “He’s going to do just as well on the west coast as he did on the east coast!”
Now, in preparation for the very last competition, Srinivas will once again practice his speech with LaTassa to fine-tune any rhetorical issues he may have so that by August, his delivery will be seemingly flawless.
Here’s hoping for rhetorical gold. “I feel really confident with my speech as it is now,” said Srinivas. “But when you’re speaking at a national level, every little thing has to be perfect. It’s like the Olympics.”