JCC students compete in 2020 Speech Competition
Cora Vaughan, Career & College Promise student from Corinth Holders High School, takes top prize at the competition.
Published: Wednesday, February 12, 2020Contestants from Johnston Community College’s 2020 Speech competition spread the love at the February 12th event. This year’s theme, What the World Needs Now is Love, challenged students to interpret the topic of love. The event was sponsored by the University Studies & Educational Technologies (USET) department. Eight JCC contestants were matched with coaches from Johnston Community College who helped the students with skills such as speech writing, eye contact and voice projection.
Cora Vaughan, a Clayton resident and senior at Corinth Holders High School, was named
the Grand Prize Winner. Cora is a dual-enrolled student with JCC’s Career and College
Promise Program pursuing the College Transfer Pathway. Cora said her future goals
are “to become a strong public speaker and to begin college at JCC, ultimately earning
my B.A. in Communications with an interpersonal, organizational, and rhetorical concentration
at NCSU. Upon graduation, I look forward to entering the world of marketing or human
resources. I would also like to travel, experience new cultures, and meet new people
from all walks of life!" Cora was coached by public speaking instructor Clara Harrison.
Linda Mason, another Clayton resident, and Associate in General Education major was
the first runner-up. Linda was recently accepted into Fayetteville State University
and plans to pursue a bachelor of science degree in interdisciplinary studies. Her
future goal is to become a writer. Linda was coached by senior transfer advisor Sirus
Forghani. Both winners received a cash prize.
Congratulations to all the contestants : Elicia Anderson – Associate in Applied Engineering, Cheryl Cogdell – Medical Assisting, Stewart Forthofer – CCP College Transfer, Abbagail Fry – Associate in Arts, Linda Mason – Associate in General Education, Ruben Quiroz – Radiography, Karen Saavendra Salomon – Associate in Science and Cora Vaughan – CCP College Transfer. Special thanks to JCC’s faculty and staff coaches: Kaye Beddard – American Sign Language Instructor, Sirus Forghani – Senior Transfer Advisor, Matthew Gargano – Business Instructor, Clara Harrison – Public Speaking Instructor, Jennifer Horvath – Spanish Instructor, Dr. James Hudson – Public Speaking Instructor, Dr. William Otanez – Spanish Instructor and Mariela Ychante-Huerta – Spanish Instructor.