STUDENT SPEECH AWARDS
The Northern Nevada Diversity Summit Student Speech Award is an annual competition hosted by the University of Nevada, Reno Office of Diversity, Equity , and Inclusion, giving students from NSHE institutions the opportunity to share their thoughts on a predetermined topic (see below).
AWARD TIMELINE
SPEECH PROPOSAL DEADLINE
March 20, 2026
Deadline to submit your speech proposal for the Student Speech Award.​
VIDEO SUBMISSION DEADLINE
April 3, 2026
Contestants must submit a recorded 5–7 minute speech video by this deadline.​
WINNER PRESENTATIONS
AT SUMMIT
April 16-17, 2026
Winners from each will present their speeches at the Summit.
SUMMIT THEME
Strong People. Strong Workforce. Strong Nevada.
This year’s theme invites students to explore the ways in which diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility contribute to workforce opportunity, community wellbeing, and economic growth across Nevada.​
CHOOSE ONE QUESTION TO ADDRESS
Students should submit a speech responding to one of the following questions.
1
In what ways do cultural identities and lived experiences strengthen teams, organizations, and industries, and how can Nevada cultivate a culture of belonging that drives innovation, resilience, and long-term economic growth?
2
How do factors such as education access, mentorship, economic mobility, or community support influence a person’s ability to enter and advance in the workforce, and what policies and initiatives could expand workforce opportunity across Nevada?
3
What responsibility do Nevada’s students, employers, and institutions have in building a workforce where opportunity is accessible to all, and what actions can help translate belonging into lasting economic and community impact?
SPEECH VIDEO GUIDELINES
All Student Speech Award participants must submit a recorded video of their speech for review.
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Video Requirements
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Speech length must be between 5 and 7 minutes.
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Videos shorter than 5 minutes or longer than 7 minutes will not be considered.
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The video should clearly show the speaker delivering their speech.
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Presentations should be delivered without slides or visual aids.
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Ensure your audio is clear and your face is visible throughout the recording.
How to Submit Your Video
At the end of the Student Speech Award proposal submission form, you will receive a link to upload your video to the designated NevadaBox folder.
Submission Deadline
Speech videos must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on Friday, April 3, 2026.
Questions
If you experience technical issues or have questions about submitting your video, please contact Sierra Hooft at sierrahooft@unr.edu.
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AWARDS
UNDERGRADUATE AWARDS
Each participating Nevada System of Higher Education institution will have one first-place winner. One overall second-place and one overall third-place award will be selected across all institutions.
FIRST PLACE
$750 Award
​
Invited to present at the
2026 Northern Nevada Diversity Summit
SECOND PLACE
$500 Award
​
Recognized during the
2026 Northern Nevada Diversity Summit
THIRD PLACE
$250 Award
​
Recognized as a
Student Speech Contest finalist
GRADUATE AWARDS
One first-place, second-place, and third-place award will be selected from graduate student submissions.
FIRST PLACE
$750 Award
​
Invited to present at the
2026 Northern Nevada Diversity Summit
SECOND PLACE
$500 Award
​
Recognized during the
2026 Northern Nevada Diversity Summit
THIRD PLACE
$250 Award
​
Recognized as a
Student Speech Contest finalist
INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING?
SUBMIT YOUR PROPOSAL BY MARCH 20, 2026
