Junior Sanaa Roberts Advances to National Public Speaking Competition

In April, junior Sanaa Roberts was invited to compete in the English-Speaking Union (ESU) U.S. National Finals Public Speaking Competition after judges were impressed by her video submission for the International Public Speaking Competition.

Her original speech challenged listeners to imagine a world without art—a world she described as bleak, barren, and emotionless. In it, Sanaa reflected on the importance of creative expression, writing, “Being limited in our expression makes us inhuman,” and highlighting the transformative power of the arts, particularly for incarcerated individuals and those in rehabilitation.

For the U.S. National Finals, held on April 24, 2026, Sanaa was tasked with preparing a fully memorized, five-minute speech on the theme of free speech, civic responsibility, and democratic dialogue, inspired by the leadership traditions of Winston Churchill and Dwight D. Eisenhower. The thematic option, “The Courage to Speak, the Character to Listen,” was built around paired quotations from both leaders. Sanaa also shared her speech with classmates during Literature Week at Merion Mercy Academy.

Although she was not selected as the U.S. representative for the International Public Speaking Competition, Sanaa’s achievement was a remarkable one. Ms. Pat Sack, English Department Chair, who accompanied her to New York City for the event, said, “Sanaa presented an engaging, thought-provoking speech that was well received by the audience.”

She added that being named a national finalist is especially meaningful because Sanaa is the first Merion Mercy student to compete in this prestigious event.