Toastmasters International Semifinalist Dr. Fred L. Johnson III

WINONA LAKE — A speaker in the running to become this year’s World Champion of Public Speaking stopped by the the Lake City Toastmasters Club, held at Grace College on Thursday, June 15.

International Toastmaster speech competitor Dr. Fred L. Johnson III has qualified for the 2017 Toastmasters International Speech Contest Semifinals and will compete with 81 other semifinalists this August in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Nine individuals will move on from semifinals to compete in the finals for title as the 2017 World Champion of Public Speaking.

Johnson gave his award-winning speech “Voices and Choices,” during the Lake City Toastmasters Club in preparation for semifinals.

The award winning speaker’s speech highlighted Johnson’s personal struggles and his resilience to overcome them. In his speech, Johnson encouraged fellow toastmasters to silence the doubting voices in their heads and instill voices of encouragement in their thoughts.

Johnson joined Toastmasters International in 2004. The Toastmasters International clubs gives individuals a community that fosters encouragement in practicing public speaking skills. This year is the Johnson’s sixth year making it to semifinals.

The semifinalist is an associate professor at Hope College. Johnson said he enjoys public speaking and has been given numerous opportunities to fine-tuning his presenting skills through his job as a history professor.

“Presenting history in a way that destroys the myth about it being boring. It’s takes some practice to take a subject that the moment people hear about it and automatically think boring when it is so not,” said Johnson.

The semifinalist says he loves speaking and helping others through that medium.

“I like encouraging people,” said Johnson.