Each year at the District 48 annual spring conference, attendees gather to support and cheer the speech contestants. It’s the heart and soul of every conference.

Contestants and Winners

The top speakers from the entire District, each of whom have won every level of competition from Club to Area to Division, compete in the much awaited District competitions. The caliber of speakers is high, and the air is filled with anticipation for the audience and anxiety for the speakers.

Winning is not easy, but it is exciting, rewarding, validating, and certainly nice on the credentials list. There is the exhilaration of doing something that most people are paralyzed with fear to do, and the knowledge that Toastmasters has prepared each contestant for this moment.. So let’s applaud their success, and in due time, with the right combination of courage, delivery, and proficiency of techniques maybe you will be on the stage at the next spring conference!

Kevin Stamper represented District 48 at the 2017 World Championship of Public Speaking®.

2021-2022

No Contest Conducted

Table Topics Speech Contest

Mary Lou Williams

Humorous Speech Contest Winner

Brice Ferguson
Image: Brice Ferguson

Evaluation Speech Contest Winner

Jay Kamhi

International Speech Contest Winner

Watch the 2022 District 48 Speech Contest Videos…
Humorous Speech Contest
Evaluation Speech Contestant: Emily Drenberg, DTM, PDD
Gene May, DTM, District Director
Pirate's Paradise
Table TopicsHumorousEvaluationInternational Speech
Members1. Mary Lou Williams1. Brice Ferguson1. Jay Kamhi
voted for 3 contests2. Virginia Papadopoulos2. Emily Drenberg, DTM, PDD2. Laura Reid
No Table Topics 2021-20223. Steve Vigil3. Crystal Berner, DTM3. Allen Black
Robyn Featherston, DTM, PDDRobyn Featherston, DTM, PDDSouad Barchini
Robert HauskeJames SimmsKam Reid

2020-2021

Brice Ferguson
Image: Brice Ferguson

Table Topics Speech Contest Winner

Sherry Johnson
Image: Sherry Johnson - Contest winner 2021

Humorous Speech Contest Winner

Crystal Berner

Evaluation Speech Contest Winner

Allen Black
Image: Alan Black Contest winner 2021

International Speech Contest Winner

Freeman Morey, DTM, District Director
Better Together - Our 1st Hybrid Conference
Table TopicsHumorousEvaluationInternational Speech
1. Brice Ferguson1. Sherry Johnson1. Crystal Berner1. Allen Black
2. Neil Biege2. Emily Drenberg2. Emily Drenberg2. Jay Kamhi
3. Kam Reeds3. Kim Basnett3. Kyrin Hall3. Jamila Little
Crystal BernerDianne GreenhalghLarry KokkoSteve Tishman
Chuck SiegfriedAllen BlackRebecca ThorntonEngel Vilorio

2019-2020

No Contest Conducted

Table Topics Speech Contest Winner

No Contest Conducted

Humorous Speech Contest Winner

No Contest Conducted

Evaluation Speech Contest Winner

Jay Kamhi

International Speech Contest Winner

Robyn Featherston, DTM - District Director
Jazz Up Your Journey - Canceled due to COVID-19
Table TopicsHumorousEvaluationInternational
Table Topics, Humorous Speech, & Evaluation District Contests Canceled due to COVID-191. Jay Kamhi
2. Anjan Kasi
3. Allen Black
Gary Moss
Scott Howard

2018-2019

Brent Wahl

Table Topics Speech Contest Winner

TR Coverson, DTM

Humorous Speech Contest Winner

No Contest Conducted

Evaluation Speech Contest Winner

Larry Kokko

International Speech Contest Winner

Emily L Drenberg, DTM, District Director
Waves of OpportunityFALL Conf Eliminated
Table TopicsHumorousEvaluationInternational
1. Brent Wahl1. TR Coverson1. Larry Kokko
2. Jamila Little2. Philip KapustaMembership 2. Philip Kapusta
3. Larry Kokko3. Mark Belandvoted for 3 contests3. Jane Strong
Chancy BoloDeepak AbburiNo Evaluation in 2018-19Juan Arcila
Nancy GoldJessica JulianoMark Beland
Natalie BrownLane JarsonbeckViral Doshi

2017-2018

Mary Ann Leslie

Table Topics Speech Contest Winner

Lane Jarsonbeck

Humorous Speech Contest Winner

Andrew Bustamante

Evaluation Speech Contest Winner

Larry Kokko

International Speech Contest Winner

Vijan Nair, DTM, District Director
The Last HoorayCelebrating our Shining Stars
Table TopicsHumorousEvaluationInternational
1. Mary Ann Leslie1. Lane Jarsonbeck1. Andrew Bustamante1. Larry Kokko
2. Jamila Little2. Larry Kokko2. Larry Kokko2. Kevin Stamper
3. Bryan Courtenay3. Edward Jayaraj3. Jim Simms3. Joseph McCall
Bill MoravecBrian SchuettJoe BonasiJuan Acrila
Ann MorschBrenda ViolaArnold CarlsonKellie Chickos
Mandelyn CloningerAnn MorschJuli KoreCharles Clark
Irma LaureanoParri SontagAnn MorschTR Coverson
Paule Alexandra ReneStephan SchonbergMichael WujtowiczJoel Ying

2016-2017

Corinne Rungo

Table Topics Speech Contest Winner

Mark Beland

Humorous Speech Contest Winner

Andrew Bustamante

Evaluation Speech Contest Winner

Kevin Stamper

International Speech Contest Winner

Brenda Alloco, DTM, District Director
Superleaders & SuperherosRace for the Crown - The Home Stretch
Table TopicsHumorous SpeechEvaluationInternational
1. Corinne Rungo1. Mark Beland1. Andrew Bustamante1. Kevin Stamper
2. Cassie Greenhow2. Hermann Strjewski2. Kisha Morris2. Michael Williams II
3. Sean Hendley3. Kat Montoya3. Bernadette Azai3. Alan Wilemon
Delores BartalinoJoe JonesMichael HamlinGerry Alman
Linda BerardiJill LawsonJim MagnusonMark Beland
Bill MoravecRet LockeHeather SullivanBarbara Milhoan
Kat MontoyaKisha Morris
Fred SchmickLewsi Singleton
Shelomo SolsonMathew Solan
Darian TaylorDoris Youngman

2015-2016

Bill Moravec

Evaluation Speech Contest Winner

Bill Moravec

Tall Tales Speech Contest Winner

Keith Connes

Table Topics Speech Contest Winner

Dwight Gilmer
Image: Dwight DW Gilmer contest winner 2016

International Speech Contest Winner

Tom Boyd, DTM, District Director
It's All Greek to Me!Bollywood Meets Hollywood
EvaluationTALL TALESTable TopicsInternational
1. Bill Moravec1. Bill Moravec1. Keith Connes1. Dwight Gilmer
2. Gerri Almand2. Ron Frost2. James Lee Henderson2. Lisa Newlin
3. Sharon Tappouni3. Russ Barnes3. Pat Stiles3. Pamela Raines
Karen TurnmireCheri Halsup Ann MorschByron Pollock
Kathleen JacksonMarinos Diamantopoulos Pamela RainesKaren Smithman
Art BalitzMark Chapman Steve ZazzaroMark Beland
Rob ArchangelMonica Cordrey Jamila LittleXiao Yu
Ron FrostAlana Willey Peter MagnusonChristyna Doege

2014-2015

Jim Simms

Evaluation Speech Contest Winner

Terry Babb, DTM

Tall Tales Speech Contest Winner

Ann Morsch

Table Topics Speech Contest Winner

Michael Williams II
Image: Michael Williams contest winner 2015

International Speech Contest Winner

Matt Siewert, DTM, District Governor
Discover Your RenaissanceAround the World in 90 Years!
EvaluationHumorousTable TopicsInternational
1. Jim Simms1. Terry Babb1. Ann Morsch1. Michael Williams II
2. Dorren Wagner2. Karen Knox2. Michelle Ferrara 2. Larry Kokko
3. Michael Hamlin3. Michael Williams II3. Adam Hsu3. Alan Wilemon
Steven SchonbergBrigitte FerdinandsenNico HohmanMark Beland
Art BalitzAmy HibberdJean RuffSondra Guffey
Kathleen JacksonJon ScottRhonda BrazinaStacey Schwartz
Michael Williams IIGerri AlmandJeremy SimonsShelomo Solson

2013-2014

Holley Walker

Evaluation Speech Contest Winner

Michael Williams II

Tall Tales Speech Contest Winner

Rhonda Brazina
Image: Rhonda Brazina contest winner 2014

Table Topics Speech Contest Winner

Shawn Rhodes

International Speech Contest Winner

Ron Rice, DTM, District Governor
Reveal Your GreatnessFlappers & Gangsters
EvaluationHumorousTable TopicsInternational
1.  Holley Walker1.  Michael Williams1.  Rhonda Brazina1. Shawn Rhodes
2.  Mary Ann Mize2.  Anthony Yeoman2.  Bill Shaddy2. Jim Bussey
3.  Jim Bussey3.  Jerry Confer3.  Karen Barth3. Jerry Confer
Adam HsuJim BusseyRichard AldayArt Balitz
Robyn PritchardGayle WilliamsKaren BarthMandelyn Cloninger
Rebecca ThorntonBrian BranaganWilliam IrvingStacey Schwartz

2012-2013

Jami Veno

Table Topics Speech Contest Winner

Karen Smithman

Tall Tales Speech Contest Winner

Kate Chamberlin

Evaluation Speech Contest Winner

Shawn Purvis

International Speech Contest Winner

Kathy Furbush, DTM, District Governor
Our Maiden Voyage - All Hands on DeckWild, Wild West
EvaluationHumorousTable TopicsInternational
1. Katherine Chamberlin1. Karen Smithman1. Jami Veno1. Shawn Purvis
2. Cathy Naabe2. Alice Delgardo2. Keelee Wremm2. John Childers
3. James Simms3. Jeffery Thomas3. Lori Stephens3. Jill Haseltine
Michelle FerraraEdwards DominguezSam BlanchardGary Moss
Linda ValentineNathalie HostinLou PolurMark Kilroy
Bernadette AzaiChris CargnoniBrian SumwaltRhonda Brazina