A Blanchester native and political science student at Wright State University won the Toastmasters Northern Division International Speech Contest in Dayton earlier this month and is headed to the District 40 International Speech Contest on April 30.
Jakob Puckett, 19, was awarded best speaker of six areas and 31 clubs for his speech, “A Little More Attitude” on April 9. In the District 40 International Speech Contest later this month, Puckett will go on to face winners from seven other divisions in southern and western Ohio, northern Kentucky and western West Virginia.
The competitions were part of Toastmasters International.
Puckett joined WSU’s Toastmasters club in October 2015. He says he has loved every minute of it.
In order to qualify to compete in the International Speech Contest, Puckett had to write and deliver four speeches in four weeks, leaving two weeks to prepare for the contest.
He said his speech focused on how “your attitude can change the way you see the world” and gave examples from his life of how a daunting challenge or an annoying situation was allayed by a change in his attitude.
“The attitude you have is a choice you make,” he said.
