Oxnard College’s speech class students took an audacious stand to compete with one another in three separate categories, which boosted their communication skills into a realm of solidarity.
The 11th Annual Speech Tournament at OC is held twice a year. This fall, the competition was held on Dec.1, which gave students the opportunity to voice their opinion on topics that were highly informational and emotional.
Amy Edwards, communication professor and coordinator for the event, organized another year of speech tournament with more participants than ever before.
“This has been a really energetic group, eager to do well,” said Edwards. “Communication skills are the number one skills to have because it makes you a well-rounded human being and typically the workforce is looking for people who know how to work and communicate with people.”
Edwards also noted that this was not just a school activity, but rather an opportunity to conquer the fear of public speaking and show that this type of courage alone says something about your character.
Dr. Richard Duran, Oxnard College president, opened the event with a speech of his own, thanking the judges for their efforts and wishing the competitors luck in their endeavors.
“We are all taught to talk and to get our ideas across,” said Duran. “Speech is a way to help train us to express our ideas in a very concise and concrete fashion.”
Duran added that this was a great way for students to express themselves and take what they’ve learned in the classroom and apply it to a real-world event.
After being welcomed the students were directed to their respective classrooms where over 20 volunteer judges awaited them to compete against each other in the categories of: Oral Interpretation, Informative and Persuasive speeches.
Some students informed their audience with creative props; others persuaded their audience with insightful perspective. Still, students agree, that nothing takes away from emotional expressions of an oral interpretation.
Linda Jimenez, a 19-year-old liberal arts major, advanced to the final round as she shared her speech on a serious personal topic of homosexuality and family rejection. Her emotions seeped through her words, which made some of her peers teary-eyed as they listened.
“I believe that yeah, people should have the right to be gay and the right to marriage,” said Jimenez. “My friend cuts herself because her family hates her being gay. I just hope she doesn’t die, you know. My friend is my inspiration for this right now.”
Certainly, every student’s muse may differ. Still, the common ground for the competitors remained the same, winning.
After the contestants had finished the crowd of speech students gathered inside the auditorium to enjoy a classic Italian dinner, while anxiously awaiting the results from the final round.
There were 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners for each of the three categories in which the students were judged.
Elizabeth Reyes, 2nd place winner for the Oral Interpretation category, would recommend this event for students who have not yet experienced competing in a communication tournament.
“It was awesome,” said Reyes. “I still can’t stop smiling. Sometimes you just have to break out of your shell, have fun and do your thing.”
Dr. Ishita Edwards, economics and interdisciplinary studies professor, volunteers every year to help judge the students in this tournament and says it’s fun to see some of her students come out and do their best.
“I think the students show a lot of initiative in choosing these different topics, said Edwards. “And I think it’s good because it’s enabling a lot of people to think about issues that they wouldn’t have thought about; I think it’s bringing out what students believe in.”
Oral Interpretation Speech winners (from left) (Photo by Cameron Kolkey)
Persuasive Speech winners (from left) (Photo by Cameron Kolkey)
