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Ely Prize Speech
By Dylan Capodilupo, IV Form
Editor’s Note: The Ely Prize in Public Speaking, originally given by a member of the Class of 1892 in memory of his mother, is presented to the student who gave the best speech in the Global Seminar Public Speaking Competition.
Imagine waking up to the crisp air of a winter morning in the mountains, excited to see how much snow had fallen the night before, only to find rain pouring down instead of snow. Or picture spending your summer days on the shores of a beautiful coastal town, only to watch as the sea ocean slowly envelops the land you once cherished, and threatens the houses of its residents.
Climate change is a reality reshaping my childhood memories’ landscapes. Last year as summer arrived, I spent my summer in Chatham, just like every other summer I could remember, only to find it under siege by the relentless forces of erosion. Monomoy and Morris Island, two key pieces of land in Chatham are now succumbing to the sea. Homes along the coastline are reminders of nature’s power, standing inches from the water, and being threatened by the advance of the tide. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, erosion has taken between 30 and 45 feet of land every year from Monomoy and Morris island. Even navigating the waters of Stage Harbor became hazardous, as low tides started to expose the impact of winter storms, altering the very channels my family once sailed through safely. More often then not I found myself getting beached on random shoals, damaging my family’s boat and creating unsafe situations. How does climate change cause this, you may ask? More frequent storms and higher seas from unusual temperatures create more winds, waves, and floods, leading to coastal erosion.
Prior to witnessing these changes, I was among those who doubted the urgency of climate change. It seemed like a distant concern, something that wouldn’t affect me in my lifetime. However, seeing the direct impact on a place I hold dear shattered my denial. Climate change is not just a problem for future generations—it’s happening now, and it’s happening in the places we call home.
In the winter, Vermont is my favorite place to be, a haven where memories are made with my closest friends on the trails of Mount Snow, Killington, and Stowe. However, this past winter something was once again—off. Instead of snow, rain poured over half the ski trips I went on, not only shortening the ski season, but leaving bare patches on trails, unfavorable conditions, and dangerous elements like exposed tree stumps and rocks. A study from the University of Vermont reveals winter temperatures have increased 2.5 times faster than our average annual temperatures, and the number of days in Vermont without freezing has jumped by three weeks or 21 days since 1960. This firsthand experience forced me to confront the reality of rising temperatures and their effects on winter sports in the future.
Some may argue that these changes are simply part of natural cycles, not necessarily caused by human activity. For example, this winter was part of an El Niño weather pattern, meaning that the Pacific jet stream moves south and spreads further east, causing warmer and drier conditions in the North. While natural processes certainly can play a role, the overwhelming scientific consensus points to human-caused climate change as the reason behind these disruptions. However, we can encourage ourselves to take action. Believe me, though, I get it; Many of you do not care about climate change and a few might not even believe in it. But just look at the damage that has been done in 1 year alone. These places are all at risk, and it’s up to us to protect them. Whether it’s advocating for renewable energy, reducing our carbon footprint, or supporting New England climate change activists, each of us has a role to play. Together, we can build a more sustainable future for ourselves —a world where snow in winter and beaches in summer aren’t just memories of the past, but promises for the future.
Dylan Capodilupo is a IV Former. He wrote and delivered this speech in his III Form year.
The Ely Speech Prize for The Global Seminar: Signature
By Divi Bhaireddy, III Form
The Ely Speech Prize for The Global Seminar: Signature
The Ely Prize in Public Speaking, originally given by a member of the Class of 1892 in memory of his mother, is presented to the student who gave the best speech in the Global Seminar Public Speaking Competition.
Someday in the future, I will be someone’s ancestor. People will tell stories about me; what I did with my life, what family I made, and the impact I left behind. Those people in the future won’t know how I laughed or how I smiled, my quirks or my chatter, but instead, they’ll know all that I did with my life. My name will be passed down, and how I decide the way my name is remembered, is all in my hands.
In the beginning of this school year, one of the first assignments we had in The Global Seminar was titled, “2.1 Our Names & Our Places in the World”. It was all about what our names meant and how it reflected our stories. And although we hadn’t chosen that name, it was still ours.
Our names were given to us by other people. Whether it be your mother or your father who gave it to you, your grandmother or your religion, it isn’t your choice. My name is Divi. My full name: Divija. It means born in heaven. And since I was a child, my name has been mispronounced when people first meet me because it isn’t one that they have encountered before. But, this year in TGS, we learned about Hinduism. How rich my culture is and how sacred our beliefs are. We learned about Samsara, which is a cycle of life ultimately to reach a state of Moksha; enlightenment. It helped me gain a deep appreciation for my name and all its uniqueness. And once I came to terms with my love for my name, it was time for the hard part: how I wanted that name to represent me.
(more…)Ely Speech by Yunxuan (Coco) Chen, IV Form, Eli Prize Winner (20-21 School Year)
The Ely Prize is presented to the student who gave the best speech in the III Form Global Seminar Public Speaking Competition each spring.
Ely Prize Winner 2020
By Carlisle Brush, IV Form
Ely Prize Winner 2020
Editor’s Note: THE ELY PRIZE IN PUBLIC SPEAKING, originally given by a member of the Class of 1892 in memory of his mother, is presented to the student who gave the best speech in the Global Seminar Public Speaking Competition.
Coming from the small state of Vermont and being fortunate to have the family and friends I do, I have always felt as though I live in a bubble, guarded from the struggles and horrors that so many people go through all over, but also denied the exposure and opportunity to embrace and learn about the many diverse and beautiful cultures within the United States and around the world. When I arrived at St. Mark’s I was able to step out of my small town bubble and join a diverse community. Over the course of this TGS class and through the school year, my understanding of the world and the impact I have on it has grown exponentially. Through the people here at St. Mark’s, I have been exposed to many more cultures, backgrounds, and an overall array of diversity than I ever have before. This has helped me become a better global citizen because I now have a more educated and nuanced understanding of and appreciation for diversity and how I can impact my community both locally and globally.
Broadening my understanding of globalization has helped me to realize how humanity has evolved and will continue to evolve and how I can positively influence this change. Globalization is the sharing of ideas, materials, culture, languages, and more due to the connections formed between people all around the world. Early on these ideas and materials got shared through trade between merchants, primarily traveling on routes such as the Silk Road. Now, globalization is sharing not only culture and ideas, but technology and knowledge, advancing society and modernizing many cultures. Some examples are forms of renewable energy, electronics, electric cars, and weapons. Through globalization, I hope to share ways to lessen our impact on global warming and educate more about poverty and hunger and the ways we can improve them locally and globally.
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LEO 