Speakers Write and Writers Speak: The NPCC Challenge Award for Word Speeches

by Brooke Holley

What do the words “courage,” “savior,” “life,” and “hypocrisy” all share with each other? These words were the topics of the winning speeches presented earlier this semester during The NPCC Challenge Award: Word Speeches competition. 

Nadyne Crumly, a NPCC speech/human relations instructor , requires her students to give a speech about a particular word that they like or find unique. These speeches are given every semester and the best speeches are awarded first through fourth place and sometimes honorable mentions are given as well. 

The requirements for the speech included the following: The word chosen had to be unknown to the audience or defined differently than the audience knew it to be, conversation had to be included at some point during the speech, and a story depicting the word had to be included as well.

Students in Nadyne Crumly’s public speaking class participated in the word speeches competition with great enthusiasm this semester. The class had roughly four days to prepare and each speech was articulated with great accuracy and poise.

The contest had three judges this semester: Professor Kristi Leibhart, student Elizabeth Haag, and student Decubanise Winfrey. 

First place was awarded to Summer Malsbury for her speech about the word “courage.”  Although she barely finished writing the speech before it was given, she delivered every syllable as if she’d rehearsed it a thousand times. Her story, about a fellow classmate, was “the best compliment to a classmate” Crumly had ever seen accomplished during one of her classes.

Second place was awarded to the author of this article, Brooke Holley, for my speech about the word “savior.” I wasn’t particularly proud of the speech itself; however, the story I included was close to my heart, so I went with it.

Third place was awarded to Juwan Ortiz who spoke about the word “life.” I greatly enjoyed his speech because of the quotes he included in it. Add the quotes to the humbling message contained within his speech, and you can’t help but enjoy listening to it.

Fourth place was awarded to Troy Dye for his speech on the word “hypocrisy.”  Troy forgot his notes the day we presented class, but his speech was still delivered with great confidence. I enjoyed his speech, because I found the content of it to be especially thought provoking.

The NPCC Challenge Awards went over smoothly this semester. All of the students were happy with how their speech turned out. The three judges seemed to be highly impressed by every speech, and I know our instructor, Professor Crumly, was exceptionally proud of each and every one of us.