When Institute of Applied Agriculture (IAA) Oral Communication instructor Nina LaTassa asked Kevin Chiang to write a competitive speech about the dangers of alcohol abuse among high school students, the UMD junior wasn’t sure he wanted to do it.
“When I first heard about the WCTU speech competition, I wasn't sure I wanted to compete. Writing a speech about alcohol -- it's an issue that is talked about so much that I didn't think I could really bring anything new to the table,” said Chiang, a member of the speech and debate team at the IAA.
But after some cajoling from his coach, the spunky speaker decided to give it a shot. His efforts paid off—literally. Chiang won a regional competition and earned a spot in this past August’s persuasive speaking contest held in Reston, VA.
“Throughout the process of producing the manuscript for my speech, I came to be more and more fascinated with the subject and became particularly invested in the idea of raising awareness about underage alcohol consumption and addressing ways to facilitate abstinence,” said Chiang, who admitted he was slightly nervous when speaking in front of a competitive audience. “To be honest, I didn't expect to advance to the national competition, so I was very excited when I heard the news that I won the school contest!”
Chiang didn’t disappoint at the national level. The prize-winning orator took second place and brought home several hundred dollars’ worth of award money.
“The national competition was a new and unique experience for me. Everybody was incredibly friendly and supportive of all the contestants, and I felt grateful to have won second place at the competition. Participating in the tournament helped me to build even more confidence, and I hope I can take that experience and apply some of the things I learned to public speaking in the future!”
