Charlotte Observer Article on Rebecca Pham (March 2008)

Link to the Article

Pham headed to oratorical finals

KELLY YALE

Special to the Observer

Rebecca Pham, a sophomore at East Mecklenburg High School, will represent North Carolina in the American Legion National High School Oratorical Contest.

The national contest will be April 4-6 at Purdue University in Indiana.

Pham began her journey as a speaker when her teacher, Martha Deiss, asked Civics and Economics students if they would like to participate in East Mecklenburg's oratorical contest. Three students presented speeches in front of teachers from East Mecklenburg's scholarship committee.

Pham was chosen from that group and went on to win the county contest. She traveled to Raleigh, where she won the state competition with her speech, "Civic Duty: The Heart of American Democracy."

Her speech covered a variety of topics, from the crisis in Darfur to the Bill of Rights. Pham also won a $2,000 scholarship.

The national contest is hosted by the American Legion, a veterans group that has sponsored the event since 1938.

The purpose of the contest is to inspire leadership in young people, deepen their understanding of what it means to be a citizen and enhance their knowledge of the Constitution.

"I believe in being active in our government because the Constitution provides us with many freedoms that inhabitants of other countries cannot enjoy," Pham said.

She also participates in the student government at East Mecklenburg, where she is on the student board. She plans to run for president of the junior board next year, while continuing her extracurricular activities -- theater, swimming and dance.

She also is a straight-A student while taking classes in the International Baccalaureate program, which combines academic success with community service. "It connects you to the world and allows you to analyze things differently," she said.

Pham is teaching dance to some of her fellow students after school for her I.B. project, which she will write an essay on later.

"Rebecca is just a phenomenal individual," Deiss said. "The other kids love her. She gets along with everyone."

Deiss, Pham and a group of East Mecklenburg students, traveled last week to Raleigh to participate in the "We the People" speaking contest at Peace College. Deiss' students did not formally compete.

Pham is the daughter of Loi and Thuy Pham of Matthews. They will travel with her to Purdue.

Each night, Loi helps Rebecca practice her oration.

"Her parents are wonderful and so supportive," Deiss said.

Loi said, "We are blessed to have good children who grow up to be good citizens. We are so happy that Rebecca is willing to extend her ability at a young age to test her limits.

"We are trying to do our best to give our kids what we could not have at their age. We are pleased that Rebecca took advantage of that opportunity to enhance and enrich her life."

The winner of the American National High School Oratorical Contest will win a college scholarship worth $18,000, with second- and third-place finishers receiving $16,000 and $14,000.

National contest participants will give the speeches that won the state competition. Each student also has been given four topics regarding the Constitution that they need to be well-versed in.

The judges will choose one topic and the student will have five minutes to prepare before speaking to that topic.