Millennials Excel in World's Largest Speech Contest

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Sep 27, 2016, 08:05 ET

RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA, Calif., Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- At Toastmasters' 2016 World Championship of Public Speaking^®, Darren Tay, Aaron Beverly and Josephine Lee provided clear evidence that not all millennials would rather text than talk. The trio of speakers took to the stage and captivated the audience with their ability to communicate, claiming the top three spots in the world's largest speech contest.

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2016 Toastmasters International World Championship of Public Speaking ® Highlights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hq5uLMLMFIE&feature=youtu.be

Darren Tay, a 27-year-old newly minted lawyer from Singapore, won the World Championship of Public Speaking with a humorous speech titled, "Outsmart; Outlast." Twenty-seven–year-old Aaron Beverly from Philadelphia, Pa., finished in second place with a speech facetiously titled, "Leave a lasting memory using as few words as possible and strive with every fiber of your being to avoid being the type of person who rambles on and on with no end in sight more likely than not causing most listeners to sit and think to themselves oh my goodness can somebody please make this stop." Third place went to 28–year-old Josephine Lee from Santa Ana, Calif., with her speech, "I Will Be There."

Tay, Beverly and Lee are the youngest group of winners in the history of the contest and are adamant about the benefits they've gained from their membership in the nearly 92-year-old organization. They join many other millennials who have sought to improve their communication skills as they seek career advancement.

"Toastmasters is a public speaking organization, but it's so much more," says Lee. "There's interpersonal communication, spontaneity, community and so many other side benefits of joining."

Click here to watch Lee talk about how the skills she learned at Toastmasters proved relevant in this young professional's life.

Many employers are struggling to find candidates who can communicate effectively and Toastmasters offers prospective employees a place to develop and enhance those skills in a supportive setting. "Our organization continues to attract young professionals who are looking to take the next step in their careers," says Mike Storkey, Toastmasters 2016-2017 International President. "The speakers at this year's World Championship of Public Speaking represent this demographic and exemplify what is possible through hard work and the desire to succeed."

Toastmasters' World Championship of Public Speaking took place Aug. 20 in Washington, D.C. Ten finalists reached the championship level after several elimination rounds with 30,000 participants from more than 100 countries.

To view the winning speeches, or to interview Tay, Beverly and Lee, please email [email protected]. For more information, visit www.toastmasters.org.

About Toastmasters International
Toastmasters International is a worldwide nonprofit educational organization that empowers individuals to become more effective communicators and leaders. Headquartered in Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif., the organization's membership exceeds 345,000 in more than 15,900 clubs in 142 countries. Since 1924, Toastmasters International has helped people from diverse backgrounds become more confident speakers, communicators and leaders. For information about local Toastmasters clubs, please visit www.toastmasters.org. Follow @Toastmasters on Twitter.

SOURCE Toastmasters International