2005 WKCD GRADUATION SPEECH CONTEST
Back by popular demand!

Once again, What Kids Can Do is looking for unusual graduation speeches to post on our website as a finale to this school year. As in the past, we'll give a $50 prize to those that most impress our judges.

What makes a graduation speech stand out for us? Sometimes it's sheer eloquence, along with the absence of tired cliches. Often it's the story a student weaves about family, cultural roots, community service, or challenges overcome. Some speeches tickle us with their humor. Others surprise us with their honesty. Above all, we look for creativity.

If you'd like to enter this year's contest or work with students who'd like to enter here's what we need:

  • An electronic copy of the speech

  • Your/the student's name and date of birth, along with the name and location of the school

  • An email address where we can contact you/the student, plus a mailing address

    • Send these to: info@whatkidscando.org.

    If sending the speech as an attachment, please be sure to include a '.doc' after the name of the file. Or paste the speech into the text of the email message.

    Good luck and good wishes!


    Examples from past contests

      I went from being an honor student with a 4.0 GPA in gifted classes to a girl in a continuation program. At the age of 15, I dropped out of school for a year because my mom went for Mexico and left her baby boy with me, only days old.

      — Mayra Gutierrez, 18, Los Angeles, CA

      Click here for winning speeches from 2000.


      Humor has an amazing power. It emancipates us from the oppressive, uncontrollable facts of life. It emboldens us, enabling us to accept our condition and move on. The insane man has no sense of humor, but the man in possession of it has a rational, realistic view of the world. He can laugh equally hard when he fails as when he triumphs. Laughter makes us human...
      — Andrew Gonzales, 18, Broomfield. CO

      Click here for winning speeches from 2003.


      It is you, and only you, who determine who you will be and what you will do for the rest of your lives. Do not follow where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.
      — Aleksandra Brickman, 18, Mayfield Village, OH

      Click here for winning speeches from 2004.