Patriotic Storytelling Contest
Win up to $200!
Freedom Festival Announces first Youth Patriotic Storytelling Contest!!
Top stories will be featured at the Milestones of Freedom and on the Freedom Festival’s website.
Have you had a patriotic experience? Tell your story.
Do you know a citizen who loves the American values of family, freedom, God, and country? Tell their story.
Has someone in history changed your life? Tell their story.
Time Limit and Age Categories
Grades 7-9 Grades 4-6 Grades 1-3
3-5 minutes 1-3 minutes 1-3 minutes
$200 1st place $100 1st place $75 1st place
$100 2nd place $75 2nd place $50 2nd place
$50 3rd place $50 3rd place $25 3rd place
Contest Rules:
Open to all Utah children from Grades 1 to 9
- Students will submit video tape of themselves performing their story. The video recording must be an unedited recording, videotaped from one camera in one location.
- Story must be memorized (no notes allowed).
- Story will be judged on adherence to patriotic theme.
- Professional dress requested for presentation.
- Decision of the judges is final.
- Note: Stories will be used by the Freedom Festival for Festival events & promotion. Note: The story contest is a different format than giving a speech.
Judging Criteria:
Essence of Teller- enthusiasm, poise, personality, energy and smoothness (rather than dramatic theatrical efforts and mannerisms)
Story Selection
Story Launch and Introduction
Story Voice: vocal rate, volume, minor sound effects, vocal flow (memorized without sounding memorized)
Physical Factors: eye contact, body language, small gestures, appropriate posture
Words and Grammar: word synergy, choice & dialect (no “umm, kinda, you know”)
Story Conclusion
Registration:
Please register by clicking HERE by March 31, 2011
Submission:
Videotape yourself telling one patriotic story and submit it by April 8, 2011 at this link.
How-to submit
Upload your video to YouTube and email the link to Julie Maddox at jmamaddox@gmail.com
How-to upload a video to YouTube
- Go to http://www.youtube.com/
- In the upper right hand corner of the home page click on “sign in”
- If you have a google account you can login with that and go to the next step. If you don’t have a google login then click on “sign up for YouTube” and then fill out the necessary info.
- Once you’re logged in click on the link at the top of the screen that says “upload”
- Click on the button that says “video upload” and then upload your video.
- Make sure to fill out the Title and Description fields are filled out appropriately
- In the privacy section be sure to check the “Public” option.
- Click on the save button at the bottom of the screen
- You may have to wait a while for your video to upload, after your video is done precessing go to your published video page.
- Copy the url link and send it to jmamaddox@gmail.com
Questions
Nan Black Julie Maddox
801-358-5783 801.763.0604
Storytelling help:
Patriotic story starters:
- Time in your life when you were proud to be an American.
- Observation of a modern-day patriot through sacrifice, etc.
- Observation of someone who is honest and hardworking.
- Historical story that may have changed your life.
- Observation that represents American values of family, freedom, God and country.
- An old tale or legend that represents American heritage.
Patriotic story examples:
- Abe Lincoln telling the traitors who sold secrets in the Union army about a hollow tree not being what it seemed on the outside.
- The airplane crash in DC in 1982: Arland Williams gave the helicopter lifeline to several others before he drowned in the Potomac.
- Men and women who wrote our patriotic songs or laws.
- Military, government or rescue workers that are unusual and admirable.
- Small family business owners that have used American commerce.
- Other patriotic stories re: immigrants, statue of liberty, presidents, wars, etc.
Youth storytelling learning opportunities:
Learn from visiting national experts Bill Lepp at a special workshop for young storytellers, ages 9-18. Join Bill Lepp, a celebrated national storyteller, for an hour of creating story.
Attendees will be joined by participants from the National Youth Storytelling Showcase (NYSS) featuring the brightest young storytellers from across the country.
Participants and others are invited to attend the free NYSS Concert on Saturday following the workshop. Register your young storyteller quickly spaces fill up fast.
Storytelling Conference and Concert (check schedule and youth workshop availability at www.timpfest.org)
February 2012 at the BYU Conference Center at 770 East University Parkway, Provo.
Youth Storytelling Workshop – Saturday, Feb 11, 2012 ($15)
Youth Natl. Showcase – Saturday, Feb 11, 2012 (Free at the BYU Conference Center)
Showcase Performance by Ilene Evans: Harriet Tubman in the Civil War – Friday, Feb 10, 2012
Donald Davis, Bill Lepp and Antonio Rocha!! – Friday, Feb 10 @7:30-9:30pm ($10/$40 family at Orem HS Auditorium)
Learn more information about storytelling year-round in Utah Valley at www.timpfest.org. Labor Day Festival, Fall Retreat, Mid-Winter Concerts
