HIAWASSEE, Ga – Training will begin Jan. 21 for the 12^th annual Top of Georgia Student Public Speaking Contest at the Towns County Senior Center. The competition is scheduled for March 10, following 10 weeks of training.

The Top of Georgia Student Development Organization is sponsoring the 2020 contest.  The program welcomes all students in grades 6 through 12, including Towns County public- and private-school students, as well as local students who are homeschooled.  Samantha Church, last year’s winner who is homeschooled and dual-enrolled at Young Harris College and North Georgia Technical College, is the lead organizer for this year’s contest.

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“I remember the first time I went to the public speaking training program. My knees were shaking and I was very nervous to simply introduce myself in front of everyone, Miss Church said.  “Being involved with the program for the past three years has given me confidence in my public speaking skills and has positively impacted my life and the way I communicate with others.”

Application forms are available in local stores as well as the Towns County Public Library in Hiawassee and the Mountain Regional Library in Young Harris. Interested students may also obtain applications from their teachers.  The completed form must be returned to one of the contacts listed on the form.

“The contest committee and trainers have been diligently working for several weeks to make this year’s contest the best yet,” Vickie Plunkett of the Towns County Democrats said.  “They are developing and simplifying the judging criteria.  Trainers represent local businessmen and women and educators and leaders in the community who have experience in public speaking and a passion for investing the younger generation, including trainers from both the Towns County Republican and Democratic committees, who are working with the contest in a joint venture.”

Towns County Sole Commissioner Cliff Bradshaw attended some of the organizing meetings and is very supportive of the program, Plunkett said, adding that he is enthusiastic about what this endeavor will promote within the next generation and within the community.

Student speakers may choose their own topic and must present a speech of at least three minutes and no longer than six minutes. Prizes are $400 for first place, $300 for second place, $200 for third place, and $100  for fourth place.  Prize amounts are the same for the high-school and middle-school divisions. Contest winners are subsequently invited to present their speeches to local civic and governmental organizations in order to give the speakers and the program visibility in the community as well as to educate more people on their chosen topic.

“This county-wide event is extremely powerful and invests in the lives of students in the community every year,” Miss Church stated.. “This is an opportunity that no one should pass up as it could change their lives and give them opportunities they would not have had otherwise.”

Speeches will be presented judged at a public event on March 10, beginning at 6 p.m., at the Towns County Civic Center in Hiawassee.  Admission is free.  The contest could continue on additional nights if student participation warrants multiple judging events.

For further information, contact Sam Fullerton at 706-994-4658.

Feature Image: Organizers and trainers for the 12^th annual Top of Georgia Student Public Speaking Contest are, from left, front row, Charlotte Sleczkowski, Towns County Democratic Committee chair; Frances Peacock; Terrylynne Marshall; Samantha Church (seated), 2020 contest lead organizer; Betsy Young, Towns County Republican Committee chair; Crissy Figg, and Sam Fullerton, a contest founder and 2020 point of contact.

Back row from left are William Albert Jones, Gene Moss, Dr. Gerry Chotiner, Ken Edwards, and Towns County Sole Commissioner Cliff Bradshaw.  Not pictured are John Alger, Ronald Emerich, and Gary Meir.