Community Foundation grant helps Bluefield College fund Speech Contest
Aided by a grant from the Alfred and Shirley Wampler Caudill Fund, Bluefield College held the Bluefield College High School Speech Contest on Saturday, May 1. Communications professor Dr. Cindy Bascom hopes that the contest will become an annual event.
Designed to promote the art of public speaking in a world of electronic communication, the contest showcased competitive speeches, four to six minutes in length, on the topic of overcoming challenges. In addition to developing strong communication skills, the students earned cash prizes and scholarships.
Shown in the photo, left to right, are: Speech Contest sponsor Dr. Don Caudill; David Somerville of Bluefield, Virginia; Ashley Payton of Princeton, West Virginia; Monica McAfee of Rural Retreat, Virginia; Amber Fullen of Princeton, West Virginia; Zain Mohiuddin of Bluefield, Virginia; and Dr. Bascom.
Monica McAfee of Rural Retreat, Virginia, earned first place and the grand
prize of a $2,000 Alfred and Shirley Wampler Caudill Scholarship to attend
Bluefield College and $200 in cash. A rising senior at George Wythe High
School, she spoke about the challenge of “being shy” and “being the new girl in
school.”
Amber Fullen of Princeton, West Virginia, won second place and a $1,000 Alfred and Shirley Wampler Caudill Scholarship and $100 cash. A rising junior at Princeton Senior High School, Fulton spoke about “stage fright.”
Brooke Laxton of Lashmeet, West Virginia, won third place and a $500 Wampler
Caudill Scholarship and $50 cash. She is a rising senior at Pikeview High
School, who spoke about “a difficult childhood,” which included being homeless
for a short time.
Three additional students won honorable mention awards, which included a $20
cash prize: Zain Mohiuddin of Bluefield, Virginia, (Graham High School), Ashley
Payton of Princeton, West Virginia (Princeton Senior High School), and David
Somerville of Bluefield, Virginia (Graham High School).