Welcome to Benton Speech!

Sign up for the 2024-25 season here: Large Group and Individual Event

Join the Remind group to receive updates via text or email. You can sign up by texting @speechbc to 81010

Who can participate?

Anyone in grades 9-12 maintaining passing grades

What is speech?

There are two areas of participation: Large Group & Individual Events. Speech is a performance activity. Students will compete against other students across the state in different performance categories. Speech is a great way to build acting and public speaking skills.

Each of these areas has a District, State, and All-State level. Students must receive a division I rating at District competition to go on to State. At State, a student must receive at least two I ratings to receive an overall division I rating. Students must be nominated as outstanding performers by at least two judges to be chosen to perform at the All-State level. 

When is the speech season?

Speech season usually starts after the fall musical and runs through March. Rehearsal times vary before and after school. Students will practice for 1-3 hours per week during their season per event. Large Group happens first and runs from November until February. Individual Events start practicing in January and run through March.

Where are contests?

Contest sites vary from year to year. All contests are held in Iowa high schools and colleges. We are assigned the nearest location in our Southeast District.

Why should I participate in speech?

Speech helps develop poise and confidence, and the ability to speak effectively. These are life skills. The Iowa High School Speech Association believes that no form of activity is more important than that of learning to speak effectively. It is also a lot of fun to go to contests and spend time enjoying theatre performances. You can also letter in speech by earning 80 points in a season. Points are earned any time students perform and each time students participate in a new category. Students must perform in two categories over the two speech seasons to be eligible to letter (for example: 2 large group events, 2 individual events, or 1 large group and 1 individual event)