Central Carolina C.C. Presentation Skills graduates 17
Mar 20, 2008

SANFORD – William Johnson, teen director of the Boys & Girls Club of Sanford/Lee County, stepped confidently to the microphone in the Dennis A. Wicker Civic Center on March 18. Making eye contact with the audience, he delivered a brief, but powerful, address on daring to make a difference.

Johnson, of Sanford, was one of 17 students graduating from the “Presentation Skills for Community Leaders” program at Central Carolina Community College. The program, funded by the Ernest and Ruby McSwain Foundation, provided community members from Lee, Chatham, Harnett and Orange counties with a special opportunity to learn how to be successful public speakers.

Following the graduation dinner, Johnson said that the two-week program had taught him to speak with confidence, overcome his fear of speaking to audiences, not worry about being perfect – and, not speak with his mouth closed.

Dr. Forrest Greenslade, N.C. 2001 Toastmaster of the Year, was the program instructor. He holds Toastmasters International’s highest award, Distinguished Toastmaster. The Fearrington Post resident is also an author and a sculpture instructor for Central Carolina Community College.

“When you think about leadership, there is no more important element than being able to communicate,” he said. “Each of us has the ability to be a good public speaker, we just have to learn the skills.”

Betty Matthews, of Broadway, was the other student speaker at the event. She spoke of her “bucket list” – things she wanted to do before she “kicked the bucket.” She urged the audience members to make their own list and go out and do those things.

The Presentation Skills course not only gave her the confidence to stand before an audience, but also taught her to project her voice, a challenge many woman speakers face because their voices are softer than men’s.

Greenslade said that being a good public speaker requires the five “P’s”: planning, preparation, practice, practice, and practice. He encouraged the graduates to keep working on their public speaking, to find their own special set of speaking skills that would enable each of them to tell their story in their own special way.

The special guest of honor for the graduation was Ruby McSwain.

“Somewhere along the line, I became interested in the subject of speaking well,” she said. “I’ve been trying to get something started through the McSwain Foundation and this program is a brave start. I’m overwhelmed with the interest and aptitude of the people in it.”

She noted that she was born on Easter Sunday, 1918, and will celebrate her 90th birthday on March 31. To thank her for funding the Presentation Skills class, and in honor of her coming birthday, the graduating class presented her with a floral arrangement.

Those graduating were Avis Watkins-Smith, of Lillington; Teresa Isley, of Pittsboro; Shahla Chaundry and Maria Soto, both of Siler City; Hugo Gallegos, of Carrboro; Betty Matthews, of Broadway; and AlexSandra Lett, Jackie Parker, William Johnson, Thomas Snell, Herman Morris, Denese Morris, Jeanette Peace, Ron Miriello, Vivian Rosser, Tamara Harrington, and Corliss Udoema, all of Sanford.