LCCC student speakers to hit the stage for Talon Talks

CHEYENNE, Wyoming – The power of oration will be displayed this month as Laramie County Community College students compete in Talon Talks: Student Speech Showcase, where they can win scholarships and prizes.

Finalists for this year’s Talon Talks are set to deliver their original work in an in-person competition from 6-8 p.m. Nov. 19 on LCCC’s Cheyenne campus in the Surbrugg/Prentice Auditorium. A scoring rubric, developed by LCCC communications faculty, will be provided to the event’s volunteer judges based on criteria specific to each type of presentation.

Talon Talks, inspired by the world-renowned Ted Talks series, is open to all current LCCC students interested in showcasing their presentation skills. The event allows students to practice their public speaking skills and celebrate their confidence and accomplishments as public speakers.

“Events like Talon Talks are important because they give students the opportunity to share ideas that are important to them with the campus community,” said Julie Semlak, LCCC communications instructor. “Students rarely have the opportunity to talk directly to the campus as a whole, and it is so exciting to listen to what they have to say and to celebrate both their courage in standing up for their beliefs and to share their ideas and passions with the LCCC campus as a whole.”

Students will give presentations in three categories. In the Compelling Voices category, finalists will deliver informative or persuasive speeches. The Creative Voices category includes unique presentations, such as motivational speeches, special occasion speeches, slam poetry, spoken word or storytelling. Finally, Digital Voices, a new category for the Spring 2025 event, offers students a platform to showcase their creativity through TikTok- or YouTube-style videos. By providing this opportunity, Talon Talks aims to highlight students' short-form video production skills while allowing them to share their ideas and perspectives in a dynamic and engaging format.

For more information, contact LCCC communications instructor Thyra Page at 307.772.4248 or tpage@lccc.wy.edu.