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Meet Demetra Ganias Soterakis: An Oratorical Teen turned News Anchor and Mom

 

Similar to many first-time Oratorical Festival Teens, Demetra Ganias Soterakis decided to participate in the event alongside friends and classmates because it was an annual Sunday School tradition at St. Spyridon Cathedral in Worcester, MA.

 

Taking that initial step to take part in the event ended up changing her life in a big way. While Demetra was nervous to present her speech at first, she quickly recognized the power of the spoken word and developed an affection for public speaking that shaped her career path.

 

After graduating from high school, Demetra pursued a career in broadcast journalism. She began her career in upstate New York and ended up working as a news anchor and reporter in New York City. Now, Demetra’s daily life is spent doing what she is most proud of, being a mother to her three amazing children, Iakavos, 6; Konstantina, 5; and a new baby, Peter.

 

Demetra participated in the Oratorical Festival in the 1990s and made it to the national level in Pittsburgh in 1994. She currently lives in Greenwich, CT, and is still involved with the event today as she mentors participants at the Church of Our Savior in Rye, New York. In addition to her work with Oratorical Festival participants, Demetra is active in the Philoptochos, teaches 4th grade Sunday School, and runs the Mommy and Me program.


Want to become an Oratorical Teen? Learn more by reading the Participant Packet. Were you an Oratorical Teen? Share your story with us by emailing [email protected] for more info.