Katie Schultz, a sophomore at Oakdale High School, was selected as one of three finalists to compete in Speech Trek, a statewide speech contest sponsored by the American Association of University Women – California.

High school students throughout California were invited to compete. After preparing a five-minute speech on the theme Sexual Harassment in Schools…Big Deal?, students competed at the AAUW branch level. DVDs of the first place branch winners were then reviewed to determine the three state finalists to speak at the AAUW’s state Annual Meeting.

Schultz competed first at the Oakdale-Riverbank-Escalon branch in January. She and a chaperone will enjoy an expense paid trip to the AAUW annual meeting later this month. All three finalists will receive a cash award.

Schultz will have one more opportunity to fine tune her speech before a live audience when she presents it to the AAUW members of the Oakdale-Riverbank-Escalon branch at their April meeting on Thursday, April 18 in a member’s home beginning at 7 p.m. For directions to the meeting call 848-4818.

AAUW advances equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, philanthropy, and research. AAUW, founded in 1881, is open to all graduates who hold an associate or higher degree from a regionally accredited college or university. For more information about AAUW, log on to www.aauw.org. Visit AAUW Oakdale-Riverbank-Escalon’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/aauw.ore/.