Student Speakers Shine at Speech Festival

By Mallory Vough
November 19, 2009

After months of hard work, six Northampton Community College students competed in the second annual speech festival on November 18.

Instructors nominated a maximum of six students enrolled in Speech Communications.  Thirty-two students participated in the preliminary rounds.  The top six scores moved on to the championship round.

Chris Lunger began the night with a speech on the history of Christmas, one of his favorite holidays.  "I can always count on Christmas to bring me home from wherever I am," he said.

Kimberly Smith went next to discuss deployment in Iraq.  She discussed the mobilization and demobilization of troops to Iraq, which she had personal experience with when she was deployed to Iraq with the Army Reserves.

Private First Class Kaytlin McConnell, who enlisted in the army 19 months ago, continued the military discussion and presented on army suicide.  "More soldiers kill themselves than soldiers killed in combat," she said.

There were 128 army suicides in 2008, according to McConnell.  "There is a stigma that soldiers are weak, crazy or not fit to be a soldier if they seek therapy," she said.  "The army wants to eliminate that stigma and wants army soldiers to seek therapy in hard times."

Abby Scheier discussed the pros of sign language, which is the fourth most commonly used language in the United States.

Melissa Kosmaczewski made the audience crave Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream when she discussed the company's history.  "Ben & Jerry's came from a humble beginning.  They took a chance on an ice cream cone and a brand," she said.

Kosmaczewski added, "I hope the next time you have a taste of Chubby Hubby or Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, you remember the story behind the flavor."

Dawn Reese ended the evening by discussing the Avon walk for Breast Cancer, which she has participated in twice.

The weekend event, which includes a 40-mile walk, sharing a two-person tent and showering in a tractor-trailer, has raised millions of dollars for breast cancer survivors and fighters, according to Reese.

Reese gave shocking statistics.  "Every three minutes, someone is diagnosed with breast cancer," she said.  "Within the hour we spend here tonight, 20 people will be diagnosed with breast cancer."

The six judges included Christine Pense, Dean of Humanities and Social Sciences, Dr. Arthur Scott, NCC's president, Donna Accera, associate professor of communications, Katie Pascalia, a McGraw-Hill Publishing representative, Cara Cotellsesa, an instructor from Kutztown University, and Mark McLaughlin, vice president of human resources and supply chain management for Just Born Candies.

Third place went to Reese who won $25 in flex dollars to be used at the bookstore.  McConnell took second place and won $50 flex dollars.  Kosmaczewski was the first place finisher.  She won $75 flex dollars.