Accessibility Options: Skip to Content Skip to Search Skip to Footer Institutional Accessibility Open Alternative Formats for this page
Accessibility Options: Skip to Content Skip to Search Skip to Footer Institutional Accessibility Open Alternative Formats for this page
Over 100 students attended BC Talks: Featured Speaker Showcase on November 1, 2023. Dennard Mitchell, an educational speaker, empowered students. Dennard is not only an internationally recognized motivational speaker, but he is also a student retention specialist and national best-selling author. He is an experienced leadership facilitator gifted in connecting with any audience, relating to them on a personal level, and inspiring them to bring out the best in themselves. Dennard shared practical public speaking tips with our students, A.B.C. strategies of success, secrets to overcoming obstacles, and strategies to create positive and healthy relationships.
In Spring 2023, BC Talks hosted So You Think You Can Speak: An Impromptu Showdown, the sixth annual college-wide speech contest. The contest featured 20 contestants and four 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 eleven 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 fifth annual college-wide speech contest. The contest featured 20 contestants and two 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 third level.
In Fall 2021 to cultivate the spirit of Thanksgiving, we gathered with four guest professional speakers and student performers to give tribute speeches thanking people who have inspired us to overcome obstacles. Each speaker recognized someone who 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 fourteen (14) students and faculty gave tribute speeches. This webinar focused on the Collected theme 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 twelve contestants and three 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 philosophies.
This site is best viewed in a modern browser and is not compatible with Internet Explorer (IE). Please use another browser, such Chrome, Safari, Edge, or Firefox for the best user experience.