“How To Be Happier” was presented by NECC student Kerry Malloy, during Speechapalooza 2019.

Students from Northern Essex Community College will host an online public speaking event, called Speechapalooza, on Instagram, Facebook and Youtube from Wednesday-Friday, April 29-May 1. The event will be used to collect donations for the college’s COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund. Each episode will be uploaded at around 4 p.m. of its respective day.

The fund provides laptop and/or internet access, tuition assistance and stipends for students dealing with food insecurity, the switch to remote learning as well as other needs connected to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Allison M. Dolan-Wilson, Vice President of Institutional Advancement at NECC and coordinator of the fund, the fund has already raised $10,000 for community members in need.

Speechapalooza will recognize speeches from NECC community members from the Merrimack Valley area. Nine student speeches have been chosen, and a 10th speech by Dolan-Wilson will also be featured.

“Our lineup is a wonderful reflection of the students who come to our school,” says Andrew Venditti of Haverhill, a co-chair of the event’s student-run Executive Planning Committee.

Cole St. Jean of Plaistow, NH and Alyse Festa of North Andover will co-host on Wednesday, April 29. The day will feature “Kill Them with Kindness” by Steven Allen of Sandown, NH, “Second Chances” by Carlos Schmidt of Haverhill and “OBS” by Jon Briscoe of Hampstead, NH.

Briscoe is a US Army veteran.

On Thursday, April 30, Trey Cruz of Lawrence will host. Keri Kurgun of Newburyport will present “You’ve Got The Power,” a speech about battling drug addiction. Kelvin Infante of Lawrence will showcase “Doing What You Love,” and Mackenzie Macguire of Merrimac will clarify complex science with “What the Heck is Biomedical Engineering?”

On Friday, May 1, Dylan Musgrave of Atkinson, NH will host. Planned to be showcased are speeches “Oral Hygiene” by Joselito Rodrigues of Lawrence, “My Life in Auto Racing” by Justine Janvrin of Seabrook, NH and “Kids” by Alex Montanez of Merrimac.

This is Speechapalooza’s sixth annual iteration but the first to be held online.

It is being organized by the Principles of Public Relations class at Northern Essex Community College to recognize the talented speakers of the community and to share speeches on topics students are passionate about.

The Executive Planning Committee consists of Venditti, Jasmine Sanchez and Jessica Kramer of Haverhill, Amari Butler of Methuen and Jonas Ruzek of Amesbury. Other students involved in coordinating the event include William Tapley of Sandown, NH, John DiBurro and Rachel Anderson of Haverhill, Evan O’Connell of Reading, Julia Matos of Groveland, Dilenia Martinez of Lawrence, Finbarr Arsenault of Amesbury and Katherine Townsend of Merrimac.