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Montgomery resident advances in the world’s largest speech contest
Travis Dent will represent District 77 in the Toastmasters International Speech Contest Semifinals
Montgomery, Alabama, July 2, 2020 — Travis Dent, of Montgomery, Alabama, outshined more than six local contestants to win the District-level competition of the Toastmasters International Speech Contest. Dent then advanced to the region quarterfinal round of the contest, where he secured one of 28 spots in the semifinals, to be held virtually Tuesday, Aug. 25 and Wednesday, Aug. 26. From there, eight contestants will advance to the World Championship of Public Speaking,® which takes place Saturday, Aug. 29.
Dent, a member of Montgomery Toastmasters Club, in Montgomery, Alabama, surpassed fierce competition to win over the judges with his speech, “It’s Showtime.” The speech touched on the themes of passion, persistence, and confidence . When it comes to connecting with an audience, he said, “The key is to have a storyline that is relatable and inspiring.”
Dent will compete with other winners from around the world who advanced to the 2020 semifinal round after winning their club, Area, Division, District, and region quarterfinal speech competitions. Their five- to seven-minute speeches were judged on content, delivery, and language.
“I am thrilled and honored to represent District 77 and Montgomery Toastmasters in the International World Championship of Public Speaking semi-finals,” says Dent. “I look forward to competing with fellow Toastmasters and hearing another year of inspiring speeches.” Dent is the Marketing Director for WSFA 12 News in Montgomery, Alabama. He joined Toastmasters to become a better speaker and leader at work and in the community.
The Toastmasters International Speech Contest began in 1938 and is the world’s largest speech contest, involving 30,000 participants from 143 countries. It culminates with the popular World Championship of Public Speaking held annually at the organization’s International Convention. This year’s World Championship of Public Speaking contest was scheduled to be held in Paris, France; however, due to COVID-19, Toastmasters International will hold the event virtually on Aug. 29.
To interview Dent or learn more about the contest or Toastmasters club membership, contact [email protected]. Follow @Toastmasters International on Twitter to track Dent’s progress.
About District 77
District 77 is one of 119 districts, which comprises more than 72 corporate and community clubs in Region 8. To learn more about District 77, please visit: toastmasters77.org.
About Toastmasters International
Toastmasters International is a worldwide nonprofit educational organization that empowers individuals to become more effective communicators and leaders. Headquartered in Englewood, Colo., the organization’s membership exceeds 358,000 in more than 16,800 clubs in 143 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.
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