Malon D. Mimms 8th Annual Oratorical Competition Names 2010 Winners
December 6, 2010
With more than 100 guests, elementary to high school BGCMA members competed for the 8th Annual Malon D. Mimms Oratorical Title. The students proudly delivered their speeches with enthusiasm and confidence. The nine finalist winners for the competition were announced on Nov. 7 at Jennie T. Anderson Theater.
Club members age 7 to 17 from Cobb County Clubs, Newnan/Coweta County and the Malon D. Mimms Club in Cherokee County participated in the oratorical competition. The preliminary competitions were held previously at local Clubs.
The Malon D. Mimms Oratorical Competition is designed to provide elementary, middle and high school students with an opportunity to conquer their fear of public speaking by allowing them to research, prepare, creatively write and verbally present their interpretation on a word they have chosen from a list pertaining to character and leadership. Each speech was required to be 2.0 to 2.5 minutes long and was judge on poise, content and articulation.
For elementary level, 5th grader Sincere Young from Michael A. Grant Club was awarded the gold medal; 3rd grader Amaya Smith from Malon D. Mimms Club won the silver medal; and the bronze medal went to 5th grader Janaya Stargell from Newnan/Coweta County Club.
The gold medal went to Turiya Lafoucade, 6th grader from Michael A. Grant Club; the silver was awarded to Michael Olaribigbe,7th grader from James T. Anderson Club; and Daisja Cook, 8th grader from Newnan/Coweta Club won the bronze for the middle school division.
In high school, Jasmine Thomas, junior from A.W. “Tony” Matthews Club accepted the gold medal; Jonathan Purcell, freshman from Malon D. Mimms won the silver; and Amir Woods, senior from James T. Anderson won the bronze medal.
Gold medalist in each category receive $250 in cash and a $250 bond, silver medalist won $200 in cash and a $175 bond; lastly bronze medalist received $125 in cash and a $125 bond. Bill Nigut, the Southeast Regional Director of Anti-Defamation League, was the delightful emcee for the afternoon.
Local community leaders served as judges, including Thomas Algarin, Veteran of the Georgia Professional Standards Commission; Dr. Valerie Baff, a Financial advisor for several companies; David Galloways, Administrator of Avalon Health and Rehabilitation; Clair Guitton, Vice President of Strategic Programming & Outcome measurements for Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta; Buffy Hoyer, Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Malon D Mimms Club; and Tim Lee, Chairman and Board member of the Cobb Symphony Orchestra.
