Lamar student wins 7th Annual Statewide Youth Leadership Oratorical Forum
Over 100 Community Action Youth, Youth Professionals, Community Leaders, Mentors and Business Leaders came together for the 7th Annual Statewide Youth Leadership Oratorical Forum & Banquet which was held on Monday, December 21, 2015 at the DoubleTree by Hilton, 2100 Bush River Road in Columbia, South Carolina. The time of this event was 11:00am to 2:00pm. This event was hosted by the South Carolina Association of Community Action Partnerships, Inc. (SCACAP), where Ms. Jessica McMoore is the Executive Director.
Shaniyah Singleton
The theme was “Speaking Out Loud”. The purpose of the banquet was to empower youth through strengthening their communicative and emotional skills, and increase self-confidence through public speaking.
Ms. Shaniyah Singleton is the 2015 Annual Statewide Youth Leadership Oratorical Forum Winner representing Darlington County Community Action Agency, Inc. Ms. Singleton was the winner out of eight contestants that participated in this year’s forum. Shaniyah presented a very educational and inspiring speech on “The 7th Pillar of Character” Ms. Shaniyah Singleton is a the daughter of Ms. Sharon Singleton who lives in Lamar, South Carolina. She is a 9th grade student at Lamar High School and is an active participant in several school and church activities to include: Student Council, Lamar High School, JROTC Batillion, Honor Guard and the Darlington County Youth Leadership Program. Some of Shaniyah’s hobbies include going to church, cooking, reading and writing. Her motto is: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthen me”, Philippians 4:13.
Darlington County Community Action, Inc. is one of fourteen Community Action Agencies in the State of South Carolina serving Darlington County, where the late Dr. Ernest K. Nicholson was the Executive Director.
Guest judges for this event were: Mr. Lee Catoe, Vice President & Special Assistant to the President and CEO for Community Affairs, Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce, Columbia SC, Mr. Reginald Greene, President, Southeastern Institute, Columbia, SC, Mr. Nimai Garrett, Director of Alumni Affairs, Allen University, Columbia, SC and Ms. Sue Dinnsen, Program Manager, Duke Energy, Charlotte, NC.
SCACAP’s Executive Director, Ms. Jessica McMoore, welcomed all of the attendees and shared with them the purpose of the event. “Developing our Leaders of Tomorrow, One Day and Youth at a time”, quoted Ms. McMoore. The mission of the SCACAP Statewide Youth Leadership Program (YLP) is to provide income eligible elementary, middle, and high school students with the educational opportunities that target individual improvements in academic, behavioral, and social achievement, career exploration and civic responsibility. SCACAP sponsors many events for the Youth of South Carolina to include a Statewide Youth Council, Statewide Youth Leadership Development Conference, Youth Awareness Day, Youth Leadership Institute and the Statewide Youth Leadership Oratorical Forum & Banquet. This event was funded in whole or in part by the SC Association of Community Action Partnerships and the SC Department of Administration, Office of Economic Opportunity.