Held in the Virginia Room of the Ringhaver Student Center, the competition featured eight students delivering speeches centered on the theme “From There to Here,” reflecting on their Flagler journeys and what lies ahead. Three students received cash prizes along with the coveted “Henry” award, a miniature statue of Henry Flagler.
Alexandra (Ally) Olejniczak took first place for a speech about the experiences that shaped her journey to Flagler College. Olejniczak shared how taking time after high school to travel to South Africa helped her find direction before beginning her college career. Her message focused on the idea that people often arrive exactly where they are meant to be.
“I was not expecting this. I was so surprised,” Olejniczak said after the competition. “I did work really hard for the competition, so being able to get recognized for that passion is amazing.”
She also credited a speech class she took during her first semester at Flagler with helping prepare her for the moment.
“I did take a speech class in my first semester, and it was amazing,” Olejniczak said. “I just had such a fun time, and I learned a lot from it, which helped me today.”
Second place went to Jayla Clowers, who shared a powerful story about growing up in her hometown of Daytona Beach, Florida. In her speech, Clowers spoke about the challenges she faced in a community where drugs and alcohol were prevalent, including the loss of friends to drug use.
Despite those obstacles, Clowers emphasized perseverance and determination as key forces that helped guide her forward and ultimately led her to Flagler College.
“Try your hardest and never be afraid to prove people wrong,” Clowers said during her speech.
Third place was awarded to Katelyn Sementelli for her speech titled “A Promise Worth Defending.” Sementelli spoke about working in a local courtroom in her hometown, an experience that sparked her interest in law and influenced her decision to attend Flagler.
She also reflected on the support of her family and the values they instilled in her as she pursues a career in the legal field.
“What’s next is stepping into a courtroom not just as a lawyer but as someone dedicated to justice,” Sementelli said.
The competition drew a small audience of faculty members, family, and friends. Judges included a representative from Toastmasters Jax and two Flagler College faculty members.
One of the judges, John Burton of Toastmasters Jax, praised the students for embracing public speaking in an increasingly digital world.
“I’m extremely impressed with today,” Burton said. “It’s so easy, especially now in this electronic world, to rely on texting over speaking.”
“Now you don’t even have to finish full sentences, and if you want to write something, you can get AI to do it for you,” he added. “But AI can’t speak for you up there, so to see these young people step up out of their comfort zone and to deliver was absolutely powerful, and I think it gets you a long way. I mean, AI is not going to be the fix for everything.”
The annual speech competition is one of several events held during COM Week, a campus tradition that celebrates communication, storytelling, and professional development for Flagler students.
