The Annual Top of Georgia Speech Contest saw another successful group of presentations by talented area students at the Young Harris College Charles R. Clegg Fine Arts Building Auditorium on March 20.
Nine students ranging from sixth to 11th-graders participated in the competition, with their mentors praising their bravery and marked improvements in public speaking skills.
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The contest serves as the culmination of weekly training sessions that teach students practical communication skills designed to last a lifetime. The training began Jan. 30 this year, consisting of “how to construct a speech and how to deliver it with conviction, poise and expertise.”
Young Harris College President Dr. John Wells opened the program as keynote speaker, referencing the courage that many of the youngsters mustered that evening.
“Know that you are not just skilled, you’re not just smart, but you’re courageous to be here in front of a crowd,” Wells said. “If you have fear of public speaking, it will soon go away. The more you do it, the more comfortable you become.”
The students competed in separate Middle School and High School divisions, with the five middle schoolers starting out the night.
Eighth-grader Maan Singh of Towns County spoke on the evolution of AI; sixth-grader Zoey Falkner of Clay County introduced the audience to Pokémon and the franchise’s evolution; seventh-grader Caleb Taylor of Towns County revealed the grave toll and dangers of fentanyl; seventh-grader Jake Roberts of Towns County illustrated what life is like living with ADHD; and sixth-grader Eliana Sheffield of Union County brought everyone back in history to the glory days of the mighty Roman Empire.
It was Roberts, through the strategic use of props and personal experience, who won First Place in the Middle School division – an achievement he accomplished through no small amount of dedication.
“Jake has shown the most growth,” said YHC Associate Director of Athletics Madison Urquiola, who mentored Roberts and other students. “When we brought them in here, he was a little nervous to even get on the stage; but just him, tonight, getting up here – it’s absolutely night and day.”
Roberts not only defined ADHD but guided listeners through symptoms, treatments and even ways to handle the disorder in daily life, including “life hacks” he personally uses to navigate the challenges he faces.
Eliana Sheffield, with her striking green toga-like shawl and gold-plated belt, won Second Place, and Caleb Taylor, pleading for change toward a more hopeful future for the country, took home Third Place.
In the High School category, 10th-grader Seylah Brown of Clay County explored the purpose of all pain in God’s design; ninth-grader Grace Lacy of Union County was inspired by her own experience to discuss club foot; 10th-grader Adalyn Collins of Union County explained how universal health care would be a detriment to America; and 11th-grader Caleb Sheffield of Union County talked about the 911 system and the changes operators have seen since its beginning.
Collins’ compelling arguments against universal health care won her First Place among high schoolers. She reviewed data from other countries that have adopted the system – namely, Canada – painting a grim picture of how long wait times can spell death.
Not only that, but the religious freedoms enjoyed by citizens of the United States could be put in jeopardy, as people who are fundamentally against procedures such as abortions or assisted suicide would be forced to pay for their completion through taxes that fund them.
An increase in taxes to fund such a system might also cause financial drawbacks, and universal health care could restrict medical innovations due to a lack of private investments.
Caleb Sheffield earned Second Place by shining a light on the day-to-day lives of 911 dispatchers and how a challenging environment has led to lifesaving strides in technology.
Taking home Third Place was Grace Lacy, walking through the history of club foot treatments and how the Ponseti Method made a difference in her life when she was just an infant.
It should be noted that all students did an outstanding job educating the audience on their topics of choice, and organizers and mentors made it very clear how rewarding it was seeing them become confident young men and women.
Already, many of the 2025 Top of Georgia participants plan to return to next year’s contest, a testament to the value of the program to local children.
The speech contest is open to sixth through 12th-grade public, private and home-schooled students living in Towns and Union counties in Georgia, and Clay County, North Carolina.
