Page "TMI — The Episcopal School of Texas" Paragraph 17

* Chapel Talks: Every final year student must give a speech on a moral or spiritual topic before the entire student body, faculty and administrative staff during a daily chapel service.

Chapel talks are diverse and may be based upon personal experience or reading, but must promote positive ethical values.

Although conducted within the context of a chapel service, such talks need not be, and usually are not, on explicitly religious subjects.

Final year students prepare their speeches under the guidance of the English faculty and are graded by a faculty panel.

A passing grade is required to graduate although, in practice, all students who stick to a previously approved message are given passing grades.

In addition to senior talks, members of the faculty occasionally give their own chapel talks.

The Burleson Prize, named after the school's first headmaster, is given every year for the best student chapel talk.