Public speaking is required from time to time, whether in a meeting at work or a discussion in class – and for some, the very thought is daunting. But students at Wake Tech don’t have to brave public speaking alone.
Latesha Sharpe is Wake Tech’s 2016 Scott Scholar. As a Scott Scholar, she receives up to $3,500 for tuition, fees, and books, along with a laptop and a mentorship with a senior administrator. The mother of two is earning two associate degrees, and plans to become a nurse.
They can drop in at one of the college’s SPEAK centers, on the Main and Northern Wake campuses, and get help to calm their fears. SPEAK stands for Speech Preparation Essentials and Knowledge, and the SPEAK centers are staffed by faculty from Wake Tech’s Communications Department. These instructors meet one-on-one with students to help them prepare oral presentations, from researching a topic to creating a compelling talk and delivering it with confidence. “Students come to college with different levels of experience in public speaking,” says Dr. Jonathan Riehl, communications instructor. “At the SPEAK Center, we can work with students individually to help them build the skills they need to be successful.”
Natalie Baudonnet
Student Natalie Baudonnet, who’s working toward an Associate in Arts degree, always gets nervous before a speech. She comes to the SPEAK Center before a presentation to rehearse, and after the presentation to go over feedback from her classmates. “I’m always looking for ways to improve,” she says. “Mr. Johnson gives me great advice. He’s an amazing coach!”
The SPEAK Center is one of several Academic Success Centers at Wake Tech, designed to be comfortable places where students can go for extra support when needed. Other centers include AMP (Accelerated Math Program), DRE (Developmental Reading and English), STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math), and REAL (Rhetoric, Exposition, Argumentation, and Literature). All offer valuable one-on-one time with faculty and opportunities to collaborate with other students, along with quiet environments that are conducive to study.
Silvio Kellermann
Holly Springs high school graduate Silvio Kellermann is a frequent visitor to the STEM Center on Main Campus. He hopes to work as a pathologist in a medical laboratory one day, so he uses the STEM Center to concentrate on subjects like anatomy and physiology. “It’s quiet here,” he says, “and if I have a question I can ask my professor for help!”
“Faculty engagement with students is known to be a critical factor for student success,” says Associate Vice President of Effectiveness and Innovation Tonya Forbes. “We’re already seeing a strong correlation between success in classes and attendance in the Academic Success Centers.”
India Turner
For India Turner, a student in Baking & Pastry Arts, the challenge is math. She’ll need Math 110 to complete her degree, and it’s been awhile since she’s taken a math course. “The AMP Center is helping me get ready,” she says. “I don’t want to be lost when I take that course!”
Wake Tech offers a variety of academic resources for students: All campuses have extensive libraries with study space, access to computers, and the latest research and information. And Individualized Learning Centers on every campus provide one-on-one tutoring services in math, writing, computers, and study skills. But when it comes to specific course work, students turn to Wake Tech’s Academic Success Centers, where they can meet with instructors, work with peers, and get the extra assistance they need to succeed.
Academic Success Centers
- AMP (Accelerated Math Program) Centers
- DRE (Developmental Reading and English) Centers
- FLC (Foreign Language Centers)
- REAL (Rhetoric, Exposition, Argumentation, and Literature) Centers
- SPEAK (Speech Preparation Essentials and Knowledge) Centers
- SSRC (Social Sciences Resource Center)
- STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) Centers
- Humanities THINK Center
Individualized Learning Centers (ILC)
Trying to improve your grades? Determined to graduate? In need of individual attention?
Wake Tech students have access to the free tutorial services of the Individualized Learning Centers (ILCs) on all Wake Tech campuses. Professional staff assists students through one-on-one tutoring, a collection of audio and video tutorials, and a wide variety of course-related print materials. Tutoring is tailored to writing, math, computers, and study skills. A variety of services are available for students taking online classes.
