2008 Woodie Awards
Four compete to speak at graduation
Jessica Garcia
Issue date: 4/24/03 Section: Front Page
- Page 1 of 1
|
Anna Bellum, Rochelle "Shelly" Rowley, Graciela Santiago and Jennifer Simmons participated in the competition. In the end, Rowley and Santiago came out on top as the 2003 graduation speakers.
" As a leader of Phi Theta Kappa, I felt it was my duty to show that no matter who you are or where you come from you can still make it," Rowley, who is the PTK president, said.
After 14 years of not going school, Rowley came to GCCC, a place she described as an environment of hope, leadership and more.
Based on the theme "Garden City is the place to do," students prepared speeches, which were given in front of a panel of three judges: a community member, faculty member and GCCC student.
Greg Thomas, GCCC instructor, said he was pleased to be a judge of the competition.
"I think we [the judges] all take pride that the best people will be representing us at graduation," Thomas said.
While some chose humor to relay their messages, others filled their speeches with serious advice for the future.
"My topic was about the choices we'd have to make," Bellum said. "We have to start with small things, and the big things will follow."
Contestants were judged on the delivery, originality and content of their respective five-minute speech.
The speakers each expressed the importance they felt this opportunity possessed.
"I thought it would be a great honor to speak in front of my fellow graduates, family, friends and the faculty and staff," Simmons said. "It is important to stick out as a leader on the campus, and everywhere."
Both speakers said they felt relieved to be chosen, but nervous as they realized the responsibility of the honor.
"In my family, I am the first one in my immediate family to actually go to college," Santiago said, "so that's gonna make me really nervous speaking. But I think it's gonna make my parents really proud."