Writer Talks His Way to 2nd Place at Speech Contest
For most of us, speaking to an audience of 2,000 people would be terrifying. But LeVan Hawkins faces large crowds without fear.
Hawkins, a free-lance writer and West Hollywood resident, recently placed second in Toastmasters International “World’s Championship of Public Speaking” in Dallas.
“I worried about stumbling through my speech, but I worked really hard on researching the material, practicing and setting my mind to it,” he said. “I don’t feel guilty about placing second because I gave it my absolute best shot.”
The world competition included nine competitors from eight regions in the United States and Canada. Before participating in the world championships, he placed second in the Los Angeles district area and first in the regional division contest.
Public speaking isn’t something that has always come easily to Hawkins. He explained: “Several years ago, I tried to become an actor, but when I would do the auditions, I would fall apart.”
Part of the reason that he decided to join Toastmasters, a self-help organization in public speaking, was to build confidence and improve his speaking skills, he said.
“I’ve really had to work hard to get where I am, and it hasn’t been easy,” he said. “But it has also taught me a lot about making plans and goals.” Hawkins hopes to give motivational speeches to underprivileged youth someday about setting goals in the workplace and pursuing them successfully.
Geoffrey Cowan, a Los Angeles resident, was named recipient of the sixth annual Council on Government Ethics Award.
The award was given for Cowan’s efforts to promote ethics among government officials and his leadership in the passage of Measure H, a tough ethics law. He is the chairman of the Commission to Draft an Ethics Code for the City of Los Angeles.
The Dow Jones Newspaper Fund has selected Joshua A. Adande of Santa Monica as one of 20 college students to receive a $1,000 scholarship.
A student at Northwestern University, Adande completed an internship at the Los Angeles Times this past summer.
The Dow Jones Newspaper Fund is a foundation that encourages young people to consider newspaper careers.
UCLA professor Jeffrey Alexander has been named the 1990-91 recipient of the Gold Shield Alumnae’s biennial Faculty Prize. Alexander is chairman of the sociology department and will be honored at the UCLA alumnae group’s champagne reception today at the UCLA Tennis Center.
The Faculty Prize was established in 1986 to recognize mid-year UCLA faculty who have demonstrated outstanding achievement in teaching or research. The Gold Shield Alumnae also provides funding for scholarships and the oral history program.
Two Beverly Hills Unified School District staff members chosen by their colleagues were recently honored with awards.
A music teacher at Horace Mann elementary school, Eloise Haldeman, was named teacher of the year. She retired in June after a 16-year career.
Betty Peasley was named classified employee of the year. A district employee for almost 40 years, Peasley is a secretary at Beverly Vista elementary school.
