Back row l-r: Eden Giannini, Kate Manico, Narmeen Rasul, Naima Rasul, and Lina Prillaman
Not pictured Joey Noa, Uzair Mirza
The Roanoke Valley 4-H program gives youth the opportunity to learn communication skills, practice these skills and compete at local and district Public Speaking and Presentation contests. This volunteer and parent led program, works with young people, ages 9-18 giving them the tools that they need to begin developing this important life skill.
Having strong communication skills can help young people in numerous aspects of their lives, from goal setting to more career opportunities and increased confidence. Youth also develop self-communication, learning how to view and respond to the world around them. This helps them in deciding how to live their lives.
Good internal communication includes: self-motivation, controlling your mood and emotions, confidence and self-esteem, decision making and goal setting. Youth can reach their goals by improving their communication skills.
Roanoke County, Roanoke City and Salem 4-H’ers recently demonstrated these skills by competing in the local and district 4-H Communication contests in Roanoke. Junior 4-H participants (ages 9-11) were: Ava Giannini, “Identifying Dragons” – Literature; Samantha Manico, “How to make Quesadillas”- Foods and Nutrition; Uzair Mirza, “Pizza!”- Foods and Nutrition and Umair Rasul, “Without a Scratch” – Pets.
Intermediate participants (ages 12-13) were: Eden Giannini, “From Sappy to Sweet”- Science and Technology; Kate Manico, “Babysitting” – Family and Consumer Sciences and Lina Prillaman, “The Art of Dressage”- Animal Science.
Senior participants (ages 14-18) were: Naima Rasul, “Western Saddles” and Narmeen Rasul, “Ethics in Research,”- Science and Technology. Joey Noa, also a senior participant, presented a public speech on “My Perfect Morning.”
These youth represented Roanoke County, Roanoke City, Salem and North Cross Schools and are active members in the Roanoke Valley 4-H Program.
Senior contest winners, Naima Rasul, Narmeen Rasul and Joey Noa will all have the opportunity to compete in the state level competition in June at Virginia Tech. This contest is part of a week-long leadership development program, “4-H State Congress,” held every June at Virginia Tech for senior member 4-H’ers. 4-H Congress hosts more than 500 teens (ages 14-18) from across the Commonwealth of Virginia at this event.
For more information about the 4-H communication’s program, 4-H State Congress, 4-H Camps or other 4-H opportunities, contact Virginia Cooperative Extension at 540/772-7524 or visit: http://offices.ext.vt.edu/roanoke/
