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City Tech Student Takes First Place in CUNY-wide Speech Competition
Sookdeo (right) with Professor Scannell.
City Tech freshman Annupa Sookdeo, 18, took first place in the City University of New York (CUNY)-wide annual speech competition, marking the first time one of the College’s students has come out on top.
“Reforming Our Education Policies” was the title of Sookdeo’s speech, which she gave on campus at the meeting of the CUNY League of Active Speech Professors (CLASP), which sponsored the competition.
A law & paralegal studies major, Sookdeo, who is of Canadian and Trinidadian descent, is now in her second semester at the College and is president of City Tech’s Legal Studies Club. She was born in British Columbia, Canada and moved to the U.S. when she was four. Her plans are to attend law school and develop a specialty in corporate law.
Sookdeo making her award-winning speech.
Her speech focused on current U.S. educational policies, both on a local and national level. “My main purpose was to make the audience aware of our current school systems and their funding,” Sookdeo explains. “By looking into our education policies, we can see where our ‘No Child Left Behind’ promise has been neglected.”
“I also updated the audience on President Obama plans on reforming US educational policies, and stressed that making these changes is only possible by working together as a society,” she adds. “We live in a time when America is looked at for many reasons, whether it is for our political ideals or technological advancements,” she adds. ”Our legacy should include promoting the importance of a sound education to all citizens.”
Sookdeo holds the trophy and gift card.
Photo credit: Noriyuki Kuroda
According to Sookdeo’s speech professor, Denise Scannell, “Annupa is an intelligent, compassionate student with strong oral communication skills and leadership qualities. She’s an inspiration to us all.”
Sookdeo competed against students from City College, Baruch, John Jay, Hostos, LaGuardia, Kingsborough, Queensborough Community College, Bronx Community College and Borough of Manhattan Community College. Besides having her name engraved on the competition trophy, she received a $100 VISA gift card.
“I intend to work in corporate law,” she notes. “But I'm also very interested in politics, and if an opportunity arises in the years to come to pursue this interest, I'll be sure to take it.”
Being a persuasive speaker is certainly a step towards achieving her goals.
02.23.09
