District 28 is excited to announce that Jivitha Siddharthan won first place in the Region 6 Regional Quarterfinal International Speech Contest.

Jiv took her winning speech through the area, division and district contests to take first place at our District 28 Contest at the district conference in March. From there, she became a contestant at the regional level, competing against eight other winners from our fellow districts in Region 6. She’ll go on to represent us at the semifinals of the World Championship of Public Speaking, to be held during the Toastmasters 2019 International Convention in Denver!

This is only the latest step in a Toastmasters journey that began in Chennai, India. Chennai is where Jiv was born and raised, and where she earned her Bachelor’s in Aeronautical Engineering from Anna University. It’s also where she joined her first Toastmasters club in 2013.

Jiv moved to the US five years ago to attend grad school, receiving her Master’s in Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering from Illinois Institute of Technology. During a two-semester internship in Minnesota, she continued her Toastmasters journey with the Gopher Toastmasters Club in Minneapolis.

Another move brought Jiv to Michigan, where she currently works as a thermal system engineer at LG Chem, supporting the development and simulation of battery pack thermal system for effective performance in electric and plug-in hybrid cars. She’s now a member of not one, but two Toastmasters clubs: the Optimistic Orators advanced club, and Royal Oak Toastmasters.

In addition to public speaking, Jiv enjoys reading and community service, and was recently named as a “Technology Rising Star” by Women of Color Magazine.

Jiv has come a long way in her Toastmasters journey, and has received support from many Toastmasters in many places—including many of you! We’re delighted by this latest step in Jiv’s journey, and we can’t wait to see where Toastmasters will take her next. Congratulations, Jiv!