Hanrui Zhang Won a $2,500 Scholarship!
Academy for Public Speaking graduate Hanrui Zhang is not only an award-winning public speaker, but also an accomplished writer and musician. Although Hanrui is now a sophomore at Torrey Pines High School in San Diego, he began learning about the power of public speaking when his mother discovered the Academy for Public Speaking in 2011.
Hanrui completed his first eight week course with the Academy for Public Speaking at the end of March in 2011. Just two weeks later, Hanrui competed in his first speech contest – the Del Mar Solana Beach Optimist Club Oratorical Contest. Hanrui won first place in the club and zone level contests and third place at the district level.
Hanrui has competed in the Optimist Club Oratorical Contest and advanced to the San Diego District Level every year since he began competing 2011. Although Hanrui had never considered competing in speech contests, he was encouraged and inspired by his public speaking coach Kathleen Petrone, the President and Founder of the Academy for Public Speaking.
Hanrui said, “I knew from the moment I walked in for my first Optimist Contest I was entering a highly competitive environment with my peers and friends, but I also knew I was in a place in which all the Optimist members hoped and wished to see the best in all contestants.
A large part of my success is due to the everlasting support and enthusiasm from the Optimist Club members, as well as my family, friends, and public speaking instructor Kathleen Petrone. People always say, “Slow and steady wins the race,” and it is possible with the right pace and the proper people to keep you steady. The people I have met in my four years with the Oratorical Contest have been ingrained in me, and I will never forget them.”
In 2011, Hanrui also began competing in the San Diego HuaXia Chinese School Speech Contest. Hanrui won first place in the 2011 and 2012 speech contests and second place in the 2013 speech contest. In 2014, Hanrui also won first place in the Encinitas Lions Club Student Speakers Contest and first place and a $2,500 scholarship in the Optimist Club Oratorical Contest.
In addition to being an accomplished public speaker and a varsity member of the Torrey Pines Speech and Debate Team, Hanrui is a staff writer for the Torrey Pines High School Falconer. When he was in 7th grade, Hanrui began his blog, hanruiz.blogspot.com, which now has over 11,000 page views. Hanrui is also a contributing author to the book Confidence is Key! 12 Amazing Ways Public Speaking Empowers Your Child by Kathleen Petrone.
Hanrui not only has a way with words, but with music as well. Hanrui plays the cello. In 7th grade, Hanrui was a member of the San Diego Youth Symphony. In 8th and 9th grade, Hanrui was a member of the New Youth Symphony. In 9th grade, Hanrui was also in the Intermediate Orchestra at Torrey Pines, and this year he is a member of the Advanced Orchestra.
In addition to speaking, writing, and playing music, Hanrui also loves reading, listening to music, and watching movies and tv shows in his spare time. This talented young man will be the guest of honor at the Del Mar Solana Beach Optimist Club’s dinner meeting on May 21, 2014.
