This year marked my third attempt at the Evaluation Contest.
My first one was on 8 October 2020, just seven months after joining Downtown Toastmasters Club. I loved evaluating speeches and decided to give the contest a try. To my surprise, I won at the club level. The celebration was short-lived though. I finished second at the Area Contest.
The following year, history repeated itself: a club victory followed by another second-place finish at Area. There were only two contestants, which somehow made the loss sting even more.
As a competitive person, I had invested heavily in preparation, with guidance from past District 114 champions Evelyne Kanini and Grace Moraa. I even incorporated a glass of juice as a prop during my evaluation (who does that?).
After reviewing my past performances, I realized I still had room to grow.
I stepped away from speech contests while serving as Area Director in 2023, Division Director in 2024, and Toastmasters Leadership Institute (TLI) Chair in 2025. The break was from competing, not from learning. Every evaluation role became a practice stage. Speech evaluations, general evaluations, and grammarian reports all helped sharpen my ability to observe, analyze, and deliver feedback.
In 2026, the opportunity to return arrived. Downtown Toastmasters Club's outgoing President, Mercy Mwangi, and Vice President Education, Erick Mwangi Kariuki (yes, his name is a triad), "gently persuaded" me to compete.
I did.
I won at Club.
I won at Area.
I won at Division.
And I won at District!
A dream I had carried for nearly six years became reality in Kigali during the 2026 Toastmasters East African Conference (TEACON).
Looking back, I can trace my success to 10 lessons that spell the very skill I set out to master:
E: Establish a Support System
Who are your inspirations, coaches, and cheerleaders?
The late Lee Kanyago and Japheth Musau, DTM, District 114 Evaluation Champions in 2019 and 2022 respectively, inspired me. Carol Warugongo and 2023 District Evaluation Champion Emily Manjeru coached me. My fellow Downtown and Watabaruku Advanced Toastmasters, as well as my colleagues at The Edge Life Skills Consultants, were my loudest and most enthusiastic supporters.
V: View Content from Past Champions
Study winning evaluations.
These videos from Jonathan Peng, Dale Rees-Bevan, DTM, and Verity Price, DTM are a great place to start.
A: Address Your Nerves
I still get nervous before evaluations.
One strategy that helps is reminding myself that the evaluation is not about me. It is about serving the speaker and the audience. That shift in focus channels nervous energy into purposeful communication.
L: Listen to Feedback Selectively
Contest season often comes with an avalanche of advice, both solicited and unsolicited.
Your coaches can help you identify which suggestions align with your strengths and goals, allowing you to improve without becoming overwhelmed.
U: Understand the Judging Criteria
Study the Evaluation Contest Judge's Guide and Ballot carefully.
Understanding the criteria helps you maximize opportunities in every category. It also taught me that winning requires far more than a memorable prop!
"Winning is wonderful, but growth is invaluable. Aim for the trophy, certainly. At the same time, appreciate the lessons, relationships, and experiences gained along the way."
A: Appreciate Timing
You have a maximum of three and a half minutes.
Practice helps you learn how many commendations, recommendations, and supporting examples you can comfortably fit within the allotted time while still delivering a memorable conclusion.
T: Tap Into Your Unique Style
Acronyms and humor are part of my evaluation toolkit.
Discover what makes your evaluations distinct. Your unique voice may be the element that leaves the strongest impression on judges and audiences alike.
I: Identify Your Growth
Winning is wonderful, but growth is invaluable.
Aim for the trophy, certainly. At the same time, appreciate the lessons, relationships, and experiences gained along the way. Try to have fun while you are at it.
O: Observe Every Opportunity to Improve
Every evaluation role is a practice opportunity.
Speech Evaluator, General Evaluator, Timer, Ah-Counter, and Grammarian all strengthen your ability to observe performance and provide meaningful feedback.
N: Never Stop Learning
Here’s the T.E.A.: