San Gabriel Museum Sponsors Speech Contest

Ramona Museum (Photo – John Buehler)

After a two year hiatus due to COVID-19 restrictions, the Ramona Museum of California History in San Gabriel is resuming their annual High School Speech Contest, open to all students in public or private high schools.

By John Buehler

The students’ speeches must be from 5 to 7 minutes long and may be on any subject that pertains to California history. Notes may not be used when presenting the speeches. Preliminary trials will be held on Monday, April 11 at the museum.

The final contest will be held during the Museum’s monthly membership meeting on Thursday, April 21^st, held in the Padilla Room next to the San Gabriel Mission Theater. Final contest participants are invited to join the members for the dinner prior to the event and are welcome to bring family members at no cost. Dinner will be served at 6:00 pm with the speeches beginning after dinner, usually around 7:00 pm.

The First-Place winner will receive $500; Second Place participant will be awarded $300; Third Place entrant will receive $100; Fourth and Fifth Place orators will be presented with $50 each.

Col. Fremont coach at Ramona Museum (Photo – John Buehler)

Ramona Museum of California History

The Ramona Museum of California History focuses on all things Californian and contains items dating back to 1887. The Museum is owned and operated by the Native Sons of the Golden West, an organization for native-born Californians founded in 1885 and is located in the heart of the San Gabriel Mission District. It is open every Saturday (except holiday weekends) from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm and there is no charge. Group tours can be arranged by appointment by calling (626) 523-9798.

The Native Sons of the Golden West organization holds various fund-raisers throughout the year to raise money for Cleft Palate Research at St John’s Hospital in Santa Monica. To date, they have given more than $1,200,000.

Application Due: April 1
Preliminary Round: April 11
Final Round: April 21

Speech contest information and application forms can be found on the Ramona Museum website.

John Buehler is a resident of Rosemead and the Secretary of the Ramona Museum of California History.