Black History Oratory Contest Winners Have Inspirational Stories

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Inspirational stories at Sunday's Black History Oratory Contest. For years, WJZ has been a proud sponsor of the event.

Adam May reports this year, we got to showcase some very talented students.

"Everyone's relaxed and feels good."

As part of WJZ's Community Commitment, Kai Jackson introduced 20 finalists competing for scholarships in the Black History Oratory Contest.

Ninth-grader John Clark came in third.

"I'm going to try to study Mandarin Chinese and for a career I want to go into aeronautical engineering," Clark said.

The second place winner had never done public speaking before.

"Despite the fact that I was born with a hearing impairment, I have grown to embrace who I am," said Chioma Eneremadu.

The Owings Mills New Town senior plans to be a pediatrician.

"This was hard for me cause I'm not good at talking in front of people, but I guess I did it as encouragement to get better and speak in public," she said.

And this year's winner--Joshua Campbell--was incredibly poised on stage for just 14 years old.

"This boy Benjamin grew up in a rough part of Detroit and struggled to make good grades in school," Campbell said. "No matter where I go in life, it's the stuff you learn on the way there that's going to have the most impact."