🏆 From Stage to Spotlight: Meet Our Contest Champions!

Before the Speech Contest officially began, President Shubham Saloni warmed up the room with a perfect icebreaker: What's your favorite contest to watch?

Cycling competitions. The Voice. Alone. Political debates. Legendary sports figures. Traders. Soccer. Space documentaries. Quick-fire trivia. The Bachelor. Shark Tank.

Our guests brought passionate, diverse answers—revealing a room full of people who genuinely appreciate the thrill of competition.

The ideal audience for an evening of Toastmasters' competitive excellence, where carefully crafted speeches would soon take center stage.

🎪 The Stakes Are Set

🏆 International Speech Contest Winner

Sheila Vida — “How Are You” 

Three simple words. One deeply human journey.

Sheila took us back to August 26, 2014—her first day in America—when a grocery store cashier casually asked, “How are you?” and she froze. The question felt impossibly complex. So she smiled, looked away, and said nothing.

That silence followed her for years—until she admitted to her boss, “I don’t think I can live here. I don’t know how to talk to people.”

What followed was a brave leap: a communications class, a solo trip to Washington, DC, and a decision to try. One conversation. One answer.
“Good. You?”

That small step unlocked everything. Sheila found her voice, her confidence, and eventually her joy in connecting with strangers—until life offered one more lesson.

In a San Diego rideshare, her driver apologized for his English. Sheila kept the conversation going anyway—about family, work, and building a life in a new country. Midway through, he handed her his phone.

He’d been using a translator app the entire time.

Her gratitude—and his relief—revealed something profound: connection doesn’t require perfect language, just effort and courage on both sides.

Sheila closed with the same question she once feared, now offered freely:
“Toastmasters and friends… how are you?”

🏆 Tall Tales Contest Winner

Blair Vorsatz — “The Cat Who Climbed Everest”

Blair delivered a Tall Tale masterpiece that reminded us exaggeration isn’t just allowed—it’s an art form. Enter Sherlock, a wheezing, crooked-spined black cat from the Bay Area with zero interest in limitations and even less interest in authority.

Rejected by the Himalayan Mountaineering Association? Fine. Sherlock simply packed tiny boots, a miniature oxygen tank, and hypoallergenic treats, then climbed Everest anyway.

Along the way, Sherlock silently intimidated a Swiss mountaineer so profoundly that the man abandoned mountaineering altogether, calmly outwaited a Himalayan blizzard with the patience of a cat who once spent three days stalking a mouse, and ignored every warning with the unshakable confidence that only a cat could possess.

On May 29 at 11:42 AM, Sherlock stood atop the world and later sent proof: a summit selfie and a look demanding a written apology—on fancy paper.

Where is Sherlock now? Blair checked everywhere. Conclusion: he’s probably halfway up K2.

Legends don’t ask permission. They just show up at 3 a.m. and lick your face.

🎤 Runner-Up Highlights

🌍 International Speech Contest

Gautam Nair — 2nd Place — “The Man and The Maze”

Gautam delivered a gripping, philosophical tale of control, planning, and the courage to move forward.

His protagonist—an athletic, sharp-minded man with photographic memory—found himself trapped in a shifting maze. He climbed walls, mapped routes, memorized every turn… only to discover the maze changed the moment he thought he understood it.

In frustration, he tore at the maze’s roots and reshaped it entirely—only to realize he’d been controlling the journey instead of taking it.

The breakthrough came with a single step forward.

You can plan endlessly, but progress begins when you move.

🎭 Tall Tale Contest

Agasthian Ponnambalam — 2nd Place — “Barefoot in Indiana”

Agasthian’s story of friendship and belonging began with something as simple as bare feet. Fresh to America, he was still learning local customs—like why people ask “How are you?” without expecting an answer. On a trip to Indiana, his friend Ted invited him to a birthday party at his parents’ house. Unsure whether he needed shoes, Agasthian relied on his Indian habit: leaving them outside.

Ted’s mom noticed immediately. She didn’t judge. She simply brought out a few pairs of shoes and flip-flops for him to choose from. That small act of kindness made him feel seen—and at home.

Years later, Agasthian stood as a groomsman at Ted’s wedding. And even now, whenever they meet, he still asks with a grin: “Close-toed shoes, flip-flops, or barefoot?”

We all want to belong—and sometimes belonging begins with something as simple as someone being ready to lend you their shoes.

💭 Contestants’ Reflections

Post-Contest Interviews with Our Contestants

After the applause faded and certificates were awarded, our contestants shared what brought them to the stage—and what they're taking away from the experience.

Why they compete:

Blair spoke about sharing positive energy and learning from others' stories. Sheila's reason was simple but powerful: "I want to tell this story. To share it with more people, I need to win." Gautam embraced the creative challenge, stepping outside his comfort zone. Agasthian discovered he enjoyed the improvisation more than he expected.

What Toastmasters has given them:

The answers ranged from structure and organization (Sheila) to exposure therapy for workplace anxiety (Gautam) to learning self-compassion through practice (Blair). Agasthian highlighted the collaborative environment and real-time feedback that sets Toastmasters apart.

Their advice for future contestants?

Sheila: "Find stories that introduce yourself. Choose a central theme from your life experiences."

Blair: "Just do it. This is a positive environment where everyone wants you to win."

 👧 🐈‍⬛ Meet Our Champions

🙏 🎉 Thank You & Congratulations

To Sheila, Blair, Agasthian, and Gautam—thank you for taking the stage and sharing your stories with us.

To Contest Chair Michelle Wen, our Vice President of Education—thank you for your exceptional leadership and for orchestrating an unforgettable evening.

To Chief Judge Helen Fream and our judging panel, along with our timers and ballot counters—thank you for ensuring a fair and professional competition.

To President Shubham for setting the perfect tone for the evening.

And to everyone who filled the room with energy, laughter, and support—you made this evening unforgettable.

To our winners: Congratulations Sheila (International Speech) and Blair (Tall Tales) and good luck at Area! 🎉

📅 What’s Next

Join Us at Our Next Meeting
📅 Date: Wednesday, February 11, 2026 at 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM PST
📍 Where: San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, 235 Montgomery St 7th floor, San Francisco, CA 94104
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💘 February 18: Love Is in the Air (and on Our Stage!)
Love stories, awkward crushes, first-date fiascos, breakups that taught you something, self-love journeys—bring your best material.
Our Table Topics will feature romance-themed impromptu questions. No prep required, just your quick wit and willingness to share. Thinking of giving a Valentine’s speech?
Sign up now.

📢 Area Contest
Coming soon! Sheila and Blair will compete against winners from neighboring clubs. Area winners advance to Division, then District Conference—with the ultimate prize being a shot at the Quarterfinals of the World Championship of Public Speaking.

Questions? Feedback? Email us at [email protected]—we'd love to hear from you!