NEHS is excited to announce a new partnership with The English-Speaking Union of the United States (ESU), one that will bring exciting new opportunities to our student members and Chapter Advisors. Through this partnership, NEHS students will have new ways to develop their voices, strengthen their public speaking skills, explore Shakespeare and the arts, and connect with students and educators beyond the United States. Chapter Advisors will also gain access to ESU professional learning and membership benefits. In the months ahead, we’ll be sharing more information about the ESU’s International Public Speaking Competition, a new opportunity available to NEHS students, travel support for NEHS finalists, and special opportunities available to Chapter Advisors, but for now read on to learn more about the ESU National Shakespeare Competition.
Inspire Student Voices through Shakespeare: The ESU National Shakespeare Competition
The English-Speaking Union’s (ESU) National Shakespeare Competition is a premier opportunity for high school students nationwide to explore Shakespeare’s works through study, performance, and creative expression. For more than 40 years, the Competition has empowered students across the country to build confidence, strengthen public speaking skills, and develop a deeper appreciation for Shakespeare’s works.
Open to students of all backgrounds and experience levels, the Competition invites participants to perform a Shakespearean monologue and sonnet while engaging with the Bard’s language and characters. Students gain valuable skills in communication, interpretation, and critical thinking while joining a national community of young scholars and performers. Local winners advance to the National Finals in New York City where they take part in a weekend of cultural enrichment culminating in the competition at Lincoln Center. Top prizes include scholarships to renowned summer theater intensives in both the US and UK.
The ESU National Shakespeare Competition is an ideal opportunity for National English Honor Society chapters to celebrate literature and inspire a lifelong connection to the arts. Educators who participate gain access to the ESU’s professional development programs led by renowned scholars affiliated with Shakespeare’s Globe and Shakespeare’s Birthplace Trust in the UK.
Learn more about the ESU National Shakespeare Competition and how your students can participate. NEHS will provide travel grants to student members participating in the National Finals in New York City.
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