{"id":3483,"date":"2026-05-11T16:33:16","date_gmt":"2026-05-11T21:33:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.jccc.edu\/messenger\/?p=3483"},"modified":"2026-05-11T16:34:02","modified_gmt":"2026-05-11T21:34:02","slug":"myka-beck-wins-the-stine-speaking-showcase","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.jccc.edu\/messenger\/2026\/05\/11\/myka-beck-wins-the-stine-speaking-showcase\/","title":{"rendered":"Myka Beck Wins The Stine Speaking Showcase"},"content":{"rendered":"

(Photo provided by Myka Beck)<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

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Myka Beck was in her public speaking class one day when her Professor Kaila Todd said they could leave early if their work was done. However, on her way out, Todd stopped Beck and said, “I need to talk to you.”<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought I was in trouble,\u201d Beck said. \u201cBut then she’s like, \u2018Don’t worry, you’re in the opposite of trouble. I actually wanted to nominate you for the speaking competition.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

The Stine Speaking Showcase is an opportunity for the Communications Studies Department to nominate top speakers from each public speaking class to compete for the title of best public speaker.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe showcase is a chance for students to really put on display the skills that they’ve learned in class and to begin to see the stuff that we learn in the classroom,\u201d Todd said.<\/p>\n

A main reason why Beck was nominated is that she stood out in her public speaking class.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe exceeded expectations in all of her assignments,\u201d said Todd, assistant professor in communication studies.<\/p>\n

Before she made her decision, she needed to know more about the event. She was told that if she made it to the top five, there were scholarships ranging from $200 to $1000.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just decided to do it because I was free on that day, and I like to do public speaking,\u201d Beck said. \u201cSo might as well, and obviously I have the chance to win some cash.\u201d<\/p>\n

The nomination to the Stine Speaking Showcase led to a whirlwind of events that culminated in her winning for her speech, \u201cExcavatum Education.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMy speech is over a condition that’s called Pectus Excavatum,\u201d Beck said. \u201cIt\u2019s a condition I have, and it’s a chest deformity that makes a concave [in] your sternum, and it can cause complications because that creates less space in your chest cavity, which can result in heart and lung problems, breathing problems, body image issues. It\u2019s interesting because the depth of the concave doesn’t relate to the severity of the condition, and there’s a wide range of symptoms where it’s not like other conditions.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to Todd, Beck\u2019s hard work and dedication are what helped her win.<\/p>\n

\u201cI worked with her on her outline, [helped] practice her speech in class, and I also met with her outside of class to practice,\u201d Todd said. \u201cI had seen how hard she was working on it, and Myka\u2019s just incredible at taking feedback and all of the things that we had been working on.\u201d<\/p>\n

She expressed how happy she was that Beck won the showcase.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe executed flawlessly in that final round,\u201d Todd said. \u201cI was absolutely elated whenever she won.\u201d<\/p>\n

The spring showcase featured 19 semifinalists who participated in two semifinal rounds, followed by a final round featuring the top five speakers. The topic of the speech was informative speeches.<\/p>\n

The five finalists were:<\/p>\n