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The goals of BC Talks are to showcase the public speaking capabilities or spoken expressions of our student body, offer an opportunity for proficient speakers to gain experience, educate students on the fundamentals of public speaking by observing proficient speakers, and promote College Read's books.
Currently, BC Talks coordinates college-wide speech showcases and annual speech competitions. In order to participate, a student must be enrolled as a current part-time or full-time.
Join us as Dennard Mitchell, an International Speaker, empowers you by sharing:
Date: Wednesday, November 1, 2023
Time: 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Campus: Central Campus
Location: Building 1008/Room 108
Please Note: No registration required to attend.
Event Flyer
In Spring 2023, BC Talks hosted So You Think You Can Speak: An Impromptu Showdown, the 6th annual college-wide speech contest. The contest featured 20 contestants and 4 performers. Contestants were challenged on three different levels as viewers voted on which contestants advanced to the next level. The BC Talks Committee decided on the top three winners after the 3rd level.
In Fall 2022 to honor AHCD Pathway's theme of Celebrating Our Strengths, BC Talks coordinated a speech showcase to exhibit the spoken expressions of our student body as it related to topics from 2022-2023 College Read's book, American Like Me by America Ferrara. The book consists of 31 stories about life between cultures, the struggles in establishing cultural identity, the search to belong, and the acceptance of cultures. The showcase featured 11 student performers. The students presented speeches, spoken word, musical performances, and stories centered on the topics of the book.
In Spring 2022, BC Talks hosted So You Think You Can Speak: An Impromptu Showdown, the 5th annual college-wide speech contest. The contest featured 20 contestants and 2 performers. Contestants were challenged on three different levels as viewers voted on which contestants advanced to the next level. The BC Talks Committee decided on the top three winners after the 3rd level.
In Fall 2021 to cultivate the spirit of Thanksgiving, we gathered with 4 guest professional speakers and student performers to give tribute speeches thanking people who have inspired us to overcome obstacles. Each speaker recognized an individual that has helped him or her prevail over a personal life challenge. This two-part event opened with professional public speakers showcasing personal tribute speeches followed by a Question and Answer session. The second part of the event was an Open Mic in which 14 students and faculty gave their own tribute speeches. This webinar focused on the theme of Collected as part of AHCD Pathway's campaign.
In Spring 2021, BC Talks hosted So You Think You Can Speak: An Impromptu Showdown, the fourth annual college-wide speech contest. The contest featured 12 contestants and 3 performers. Contestants were challenged on three different levels as viewers voted on which contestants advanced to the next level. At the end of the contest, the three contestants were designated as first, second, and third-place winners.
In Fall 2020, BC Talks: Speech Showcase featured two student co-hosts, nine presenters, and two musical performers. The showcase theme of social justice has reverberated in the informative and persuasive speeches, as well as the spoken word performed. Topics of social justice included diversity in media, women's rights, the death penalty, climate crisis, police brutality, LGBTQ+, homelessness, kneeling as a form of protest, and mental health. The passionate and colorful performances exhibited our diverse student body, representing various nationalities and viewpoints. The event was coordinated by the BC Talks Committee and integrated AHCD's theme of We Are One: Coming Together for Social Justice.
In Spring 2019, the themes of BC Talks: Speech Contest were derived from College Read and Literary Festival's featured book, The Moth Presents All These Wonders, presented in conjunction with National Library Week, celebrating the contributions of our nation's libraries. On April 10, 2019, students competed by presenting narrative speeches with at least two oral citations.
In Spring 2018, the themes of BC Talks: Speech Contest were derived from College Read and Literary Festival's featured book, Spare Parts by Joshua Davis, presented in conjunction with National Library Week, celebrating the contributions of our nation's libraries. On April 5, 2018, students competed by presenting informative or persuasive speeches with at least two oral citations.
In Fall 2017, the themes of BC Talks: Speech Showcase were derived from the College Read featured book, Spare Parts by Joshua Davis. Students were encouraged to present speeches, spoken word, musical performances, and comedy skits centered on the topics of the book. On November 17, 2018, students exhibited various types of spoken expressions.
In Spring 2017, the themes of BC Talks: Speech Contest were derived from the 2016-2017 College Read and Literary Festival's featured book, This I Believe II, presented in conjunction with National Library Week, celebrating the contributions of our nation's libraries. The book is a collection of 75 essays on personal philosophies. On April 7, 2017, students competed by presenting informative and persuasive speeches on experiences or events that shaped their personal philosophies.
1st Place
Speech Professor: N/A
2nd Place
Speech Professor: Rosena Beniste
3rd Place
Speech Professor: Rosena Beniste
1st Place
Speech Professor: Shaconna Derico
2nd Place
Speech Professor: Shaconna Derico
3rd Place
Speech Professor: Rosena Beniste
1st Place
Speech Professor: Pedro Gonzalez
2nd Place
Speech Professor: Daniel Shears
3rd Place
Speech Professor: James Rowland
1st Place
Speech Professor: Rosena Beniste
2nd Place
Speech Professor: Rosena Beniste
3rd Place
Speech Professor: Rosena Beniste
1st Place
Speech Professor: Rosena Beniste
2nd Place
Speech Professor: Laura Raymond
3rd Place
Speech Professor: Rosena Beniste
1st Place
Speech Professor: Rosena Beniste
2nd Place
Speech Professor: Maria Hills McParland
3rd Place
Speech Professor: Rosena Beniste
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