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Gavel Club

Open to students in grades 9-12, GWA Gavel Club is a high school version of Toastmasters International. Once a month, students and faculty/parent sponsors gather in the cafeteria for an evening of dinner, speeches, and fun. Every meeting brings different speech topics, and members become comfortable with giving speeches and evaluating others’ speeches as well.

Awards are given for best speech and best speech evaluator each month. Gavel members who deliver 10 speeches by the end of their senior year receive the rank of “Competent Toastmaster” and receive a pin and special graduation recognition.

Gavel Club has been a longstanding tradition at GWA which continually benefits its participants during their time in Upper School and beyond. Countless alumni have provided feedback over the years saying that this club helped them the most with preparation for college and for life. The club focuses on public speaking, giving students the opportunity to present speeches throughout the year in the presence of both their peers and their mentors.

When asked how he has benefitted from participating, Gavel Club president and soon to be Cal Tech student, Noah Hicks said, “Gavel Club has really benefited me both socially and as a public speaker, making me more confident and comfortable in front of a large crowd of people. I would recommend that underclassmen join Gavel Club and truly take it seriously, because they will get one of the more useful skills (public speaking) for any profession, out of it."

To learn more, contact club adviser Ms. Cortney Pickens.

2021-2022 Gavel Club Officers:

 

President: Noah Hicks

Sergeant at Arms: Taylor Grossman

Vice President of Job Supervision: Gracie Wood         

Vice President of Membership:  Nathan Purvis

Vice President of Education:  Alex Zahradnik

Vice President of Public Relations: George Zupko

Treasurer:  Colt Ratliff

Secretary:  Sara Bryan