How to access value of an Select Option's label?

semaphore

Is there an easy way to access the value of an option's label from within a presentation template? Here is the item in my DCT:

<item name="Topic">
<select required="t">
<option label="label a" value="value a" selected="t" />
<option label="label b" value="value b" selected="t" />
</select>
</item>

I want to the access value of the label (eg. "label a") that the user selected. I know how to acces an Option's value, but in this case I need to access the value of label as well.

Thanks!