San Antonio Academy
Mateo Nelson Named Winner of the 2026 W.T. Bondurant Jr. Oratorical Contest
Mateo Nelson Named Winner of the 2026 W.T. Bondurant Jr. Oratorical Contest
San Antonio Academy proudly celebrates 8th grader Mateo Nelson as the 2026 W.T. Bondurant Jr. Oratorical Contest winner with his essay titled, "The Button I Wouldn't Press." Remarkably, this marks Mateo’s second consecutive victory, as he also earned the first-place title in last year’s competition. A testament to his continued growth, confidence, and gift for the spoken word.
Named in honor of W.T. Bondurant Jr., who served as SAA president from 1960 to 1985, this long-standing tradition challenges Middle School students to refine their public speaking skills- an essential component of The Academy’s curriculum. Each year, six students from grades 6-8 (two from each grade) present their personal essays before a panel of alumni judges, competing for the contest’s top honor. Their speeches are evaluated on structure, delivery, body language, and overall persuasiveness. This year, Mateo’s speech on the importance of living in the moment earned him the winning title for the second year in a row and the opportunity to share his speech at the upcoming Middle School Grandparents Chapel.
“If we keep waiting for a time in our lives where everything is perfect and without troubles, we will spend our whole lives waiting. It is the chaos, the unpredictable current of events that truly defines what it means to live, so value the present, the future can take care of itself.” Mateo added, "I only wish I had started to fully value [the Academy] earlier."
Finalists were selected based on narratives written and read aloud in their English classes, and they then worked closely with their teachers to fine-tune their delivery. This year’s participants included:
- 6th Grade: Caleb H. and Henry W. (3rd Place)
- 7th Grade: John K. and Alex L.
- 8th Grade: Loomis F. (2nd Place) and Mateo N. (1st Place)
Congratulations to Mateo and all our talented 2026 Oratorical Contest finalists. A special thank you to our Academy alumni who volunteered their time to judge the contest.
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