CHATTANOOGA, TN – Chattanooga State Community College students gathered on campus on Friday, April 12, to show off their persuasive public speaking skills and compete for cash prizes in front of their peers and a panel of judges. 

This year's Talking Tigers speech contest was the second in a now-annual tradition in which participants must give a 5- to 7-minute persuasive speech supporting the nonprofit organization of their choosing. Participants spoke in favor of the National Association on Mental Illness (NAMI), 4-H, the International OCD Foundation, St. Jude's, CALEB, Hart Gallery, Chambliss, and other organizations.  

Each of the 14 contestants spoke first in front of a panel of three judges, who scored participants across a variety of criteria. Six finalists then presented again in front of peers, parents, and college administrators. 

Student Carolina S. took home the gold with a presentation encouraging attendees to support 4-H, a nationwide student organization rooted in leadership and agriculture, Carolina said the organization aims to have a lasting impact on its participants. 

“This one program invests in the now, in the day-to-day challenges that kids face. It’s a long-term investment in kids regardless of race, regardless of gender, and regardless of their socioeconomic background,” Carolina said in her winning speech. “4-H teaches kids as young as 4th grade three things: You are powerful, you are a decision-maker, and you are a world-changer.” 

The second-place prize went to Tashona M., who presented in favor of TN Voices, which works to destigmatize mental health issues and offers a mobile mental health app titled MyHealthCoach. 

“You can’t treat a psychological wound if you don’t know it’s injured. That’s why the impact of TN voices is so important,” she said. “I believe that in a matter of years, our quality of life could rise drastically, especially if we all began practicing emotional-mental hygiene.” 

Niel Hernandez claimed the third leading spot with a presentation in favor of NAMI. Comparing depression and anxiety to a backpack weighing college students down, Hernandez said the organization offers classes and resources for students facing mental health concerns. 

“In society, it has become easier to hold on to our backpacks than to simply let it go,” he said. 

Talking Tigers is organized by ChattState speech professors April Kidd and Dr. Trae Cotton, along with the college’s communication department. 

"Talking Tigers is more than just a competition; it's a platform for our students to amplify their voices and advocate for causes they believe in,” Kidd said. "The diversity of causes represented in Talking Tigers reflects the wide range of issues that our students are passionate about addressing in society."