Speech 1311 #3 - Award Speech

Award Speech Outline- Daniel Melander, Speech 1311, Dr. Dean

I. Introduction

A. Attention Getter- How many of you have ever been around someone that made you feel like the most important and special person in the world by just being in their presence? I have been so lucky to have just a person in my life. This person has influenced hundreds, perhaps even thousands of people due to her example of love for others.

B. Introduce Awardee & Name of Award:

C.

The person I am here to honor today is my very grandmother, Nona Melander. I am bestowing upon her the prestigious Golden Rule Award.

D. Preview Main Points

1. I will you first about her humble beginnings

2. Second, I will share some of her personality characteristics which make her so special

3. Third and last, I will share several of her many accomplishments

II. Body

A. Humble Beginnings

1. Nona was born in 1929, the year of the stock market crash and the beginning of the Great Depression. She grew up on a farm in Annos, Idaho, and her family was very poor. She had what most people would think was a very hard childhood, but in her mind she the most blessed person alive. Her father left her mother and the family for another woman when she was a young girl. Her mother was remarried 4 different times during her adolescence and she had to leave the home at the age of 13 to live with her older sister in Boise because her mother’s new husband was abusing her and the other children. I know it must have been difficult.

B. Personality Characteristics

1. BUT, if you asked Nona about her childhood, she would tell you only the wonderful things that happened to her and that everything was a blessing. I was around my grandmother a lot growing up. I honestly never heard her say one unkind thing about another person.

2. One experience really sticks out in my mind: I remember a time when her youngest son Greg was complaining about a neighbor boy and every time he said something bad about this person she would say something good in response. This went back and forth about 5 times when she finally said “Greg, you are going to have to leave the house and you are not allowed to come back until you have something nice to say about him”.

3. I remember her saying often if you can’t say something nice about a person then don’t say anything at all.

C. Her Accomplishments- She had many accomplishments throughout her life.

1. She loved my Grandfather Vernon very much. They were married for 48 yrs. before he passed away suddenly at the young age of 65. They had 11 children, 6 boys and 5 girls one of whom died shortly after childbirth.

2. She was a gifted writer. She wrote journals her whole life, which now represent a special treasure for our family.

3. She was a woman of great service to her family, church and community. Anyone that knew my grandmother felt like they were her very best friend.

4. I remember her telling me often that I was her favorite. I remember being surprised at her funeral when hundreds of people felt the same way I did.

III. Conclusion

A. Why this award?

1. My grandmother came from a difficult childhood but always saw the positive in others.

2. She had amazing character and wonderful hug.

3. Her accomplishments will impact generations to come.

4. Thank you Grandma for being my Heroine. You have made a difference in my life and countless others! I am pleased to present this, “The Golden Rule Award,” posthumously to my grandmother Nona.