Ismaila Ngum, centre, won the Best Speaker prize at heats for the national Rotary Youth Speaks public speaking competition. Picturedd with teammates Sabya Khan (left) and Parnieshka Ramsamy. Students competing in the national Rotary Youth Speaks heats won the Best Speaker prize, but were pipped to the post for the overall prize.

Ismaila Ngum was named Best Speaker in the competition, as part of Uxbridge College’s team which also included Sabyha Khan and Parnieshka Ramsamy.

Ismaila and Sabyha also have cause to celebrate because they have been offered places at Oxford and Cambridge universities respectively.

Ismaila and Sabyha took part in the competition for the College last year, in a team which won three rounds to reach the regional finals.

The College team, whose thought-provoking presentation was entitled ‘Guns don't kill people, Rappers Do’ were knocked out by Herschel Grammar School in what was the second round of heats, the zone final. St George’s and Brigidine Schools, both of Windsor, also competed in the senior section of the heats which was organized by the Rotary Club of Windsor St. George.

Laraine Smith OBE, Principal of Uxbridge College, said: “This was an incredibly tough competition and the judges must have had a very hard job. Ismaila certainly deserved the Best Speaker prize and I am very proud of the whole team.


“I have no doubt that taking part in activities like this can have a significant impact on future success, for example when demonstrating talent, commitment and success in university and job applications.

“I also hear that the winning school, Herschel Grammar, videoed the College’s speech from last year and used it to construct theirs this time round. I consider this a great compliment, particularly as they went on to win the round!”

The Rotary Club of Elthorne-Hillingdon organises the local heat for Rotary's national Youth Speaks Competition in co-operation with other local clubs (Pinner, Ruislip-Northwood and Uxbridge). The club actively suppports the heat winners as they progress to later stages of the competition.