Two high school students enrolled at Alamance Community College (ACC) took top honors at a speech competition sponsored by the Alamance County Rotary Club.

 

Jaryn Green and Meredith Powell, both Career and College Promise (CCP) students, finished first and second respectively in the 2025 Alamance County Rotary Club Jim Armstrong Four Way Test Speech Contest for high school students. The contest was held during the chapter’s February 11 meeting. Green and Powell now move on to the District competition in Asheboro later this month.

 

Contestants were asked to present a six-minute persuasive talk, directed toward their peers, to promote high ethical standards in daily life by applying Rotary’s Four Way Test of truth, fairness, goodwill, and the common good to their chosen topic.

 

Jaryn Green, a homeschooled student, earned first place by convincing her peers to take a public speaking course to improve the quality of communication and connection they make with others.  Green is co-captain of ACC’s award-winning Mock Trial Team. She plans to become an attorney and will enter the Western Carolina Honors Leadership program in the fall.

 

Meredith Powell, also homeschooled, finished in second place. She focused on the dangers of social comparison for young people who are active on social media. Powell is also a member of ACC’s Mock Trial Team and hopes to work in the field of graphic design. She is considering Liberty University and Western Carolina to continue her undergraduate studies.

 

The students had six minutes to present their speeches and were evaluated on content (knowledge of subject, logical development, clarity of ideas, persuasiveness to peers), originality (captures audience interest and attention, effectively connects the information about ethics to the lives of teens today), and delivery (enunciation/pronunciation, expression/poise, sincerity/tone, positive approach).

 

Dr. Kevin Sargent, a public speaker instructor at Alamance Community College, and director of the Mock Trial program, said, “These amazing young women have taken full advantage of opportunities for learning outside of the classroom during their time at ACC. They are able to present themselves and their ideas in a polished, professional manner and create strong emotional connections with listeners. I couldn’t be more proud of them.”