Leadership Academy Yearbook Flipbook 2019-2020

TOASTMASTERS
Toastmasters is an international organization devoted to developing public speaking, communication
and leadership skills. In 2019, the CLA launched and soon after chartered two Toastmasters clubs at the
College. The clubs met each week on campus and continued meeting online when Centennial started
virtual teaching and learning in mid-March 2020.
Speak Up Centennial and Voice of Centennial were led by two unique and dedicated student executive
teams. We hosted guests from around the world, organized workshops with award-winning speakers, and
heard some and heard some truly exceptional speeches from our members. Most of all, we grew some
phenomenal friendships – our bonds now make us a Centennial Toastmasters Family!
Speak Up Centennial Club Executive Team
Suriya Narayanan, President
Jimmy Nyende, VP Education
Dujavanthi Sebastian, VP Public Relations
Carrie Anne Cordevilla, VP Membership
Hetaxi Morker, Secretary
Levie Marilao and Jester Vinluan, Sergeant-At-Arms
Voice of Centennial Club Executive Team
Drona Tushir, President
Gus Francisco, VP Education
Joben James, VP Public Relations
Jenit Bilakhia, VP Membership
Mit Mehta, Secretary
Daniel Walker, Sergeant-At-Arms
Over 160 unique students attended a Toastmasters meeting this past year, and our typical weekly
meetings have about 15-20 participants.
This first year, we hosted our first ever club speech and evaluation competitions, all part of the annual
International Speech Contest organized by Toastmasters International. Two of our members, Dujavanthi
Sebastian and Mercy Mamman, moved on to Area competitions, placing in the top three at this higher level
as well!
Toastmasters Testimonials
The impact of Toastmasters on me as a student, professional and individual is a
journey I can never forget. Strong communication skills are so valuable irrespective of
one’s chosen career path or personal situation.
Mercy Mamman, Voice of Centennial club member
Winner of the Club Speech Contest and 3rd place winner of the Area Contest,
February 2020
I have metamorphosed from a nervous introvert into a daring and confident speaker, an
avid communicator and leader. I credit this personal transformation to the Toastmasters
community started at Centennial in the Fall of 2019. Communication makes us uniquely
human, and now I feel I have the clarity, the succinctness and the comfort when I speak
in public, both personally and professionally.
Dujavanthi Sebastian, Speak Up Centennial club member
Winner of the Club Speech Contest and 2nd place winner of the Area Contest,
February 2020
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