Verde Valley School senior wins Global Water Crisis Speech Competition

Sedona, AZ -- Katie Radosevic (16), a Verde Valley School high school senior and Cornville resident, was recently announced as the winner of the Global Water Crisis speaking competition by The Words That Shook the World, a summer camp program designed to showcase the power of oratory in America’s young people and discuss important issues.

Ms. Radosevic’s winning speech addressed the global water crisis by asking listeners to imagine a life without water and how more than one billion wake up each day without clean water. The high school senior challenged all to write their public representatives to address the issue and support Water Aid and other international efforts to eliminate this growing problem. [Click here to view Katie's video speech]

For her first place finish, Ms. Radosevic was awarded a VIP trip to New York City to meet with Richard Greene, the founder of WTSTW, Water Aid executives and attend the August 5th concert by “The Police” at Giants Stadium. The Police, the legendary rock group formed in 1977 by Sting, Stewart Copeland and Andy Summers, and now reunited and conducting a world tour, is supporting Water Aid – the London-based organization whose mission is to overcome poverty by enabling the world’s poorest people to gain access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene education.

“We congratulate Katie on her speech,” says Richard Greene. “She challenged us to find a solution to this terrible problem that confronts so many millions and she did it in a compelling, focused and moving way.”

Last year, 10 high school student leaders, chosen as finalists from over 8,000 high schools in all 50 states participated in the first Words That Shook The World contest, including Ms. Radosevic.

“I am honored and excited to have taken first place in the summer camp competition,” says Ms. Radosevic. “This competition allowed me to share my views and encourage people to be more conscious about this important issue while also enhancing my public speaking skills.”

In addition to public speaking, Ms. Radosevic is involved with 4-H, playing the mandolin and also operating her own goat milk soap business.  Her business serves the Sedona area and also national customers (Read related article about Katie: Bea's Beauty Bar Soap.)  She holds an open house once each spring to educate the residents of the Verde Valley on sustainable living and the ways of the past. She also offers demonstrations on goat milking and milk handling, cheese making, soap making, felting, fiber spinning and weaving.

She is the daughter of Patti Marrs and Rod Radosevic.

Katie told Sedona.biz, "More than anything, my interests lie in my animals and my goats. I've been a very active member in 4-H on the local, county, state and national level for the past 7 years; but recently I've become involved in the water issues that are affecting Arizona, as well as urging Americans to become more self sustainable and accountable for themselves.

One thing that I've always felt is extremely important is education. I encourage people as much as I can to educate themselves and others on all the issues that are near and dear to them. There is no tool as powerful and effective as education for moving into the future.

And last but not least, my college plans: After graduating in the Spring of 2008, I have many different options. I plan to either start at a 4-year college, majoring in environmental studies or government; or travel abroad for a 3-year program in Venezuela to study about developing rural areas and farm management."

For the last year Katie has published and been a contributing editor for the Cornville Chronicle, the monthly news letter/paper that she founded. Katie will also be featured this fall on a new PBS television show - Biz Kids.

Katie was also selected to represent Arizona at the following: the Society for Range Management National High School Forum (was Feb 2007 in Reno), National 4H Conference (was March 2007 in Washington, DC) and also selected to be the Arizona delegate to the National 4H Congress in Atlanta, GA this November.

National competition finals for the WTSTW will be held November 24 in Washington, DC where 10 students will vie for the first place award, a four-year college scholarship valued at $40,000.

National sponsors include Lockheed Martin, Sandia National Laboratories, Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership, The History Channel, Celebrity Cruises, Communities in Schools, The Dalio Family Foundation, Michelman & Robinson LLP and Bragman Nyman Cafarelli.

For more information, visit www.wordsthatshooktheworld.com or call 310-273-5787.

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