Natalie Barnes, of Harnett County, took first place in the Speech Contest at the 2013 Carolinas Aktion Club Convention, held Sept. 13-15 at the Salvation Army's Camp Walter Johnson, in Denton. Barnes is a student in Central Carolina Community College's College and Career Readiness Adult Basic Education program. She is also a member of the Achiever's Aktion Club of Harnett County, which is sponsored by The ARC of Harnett County and the Kiwanis Clubs of Harnett County. The convention was sponsored by various ARC and Kiwanis organizations throughout North and South Carolina. It featured talent, training and game competitions. For more information about CCCC's College and Career Readiness Adult Basic Education program, contact instructor Elizabeth King at 910-814-8977 or eking@cccc.edu.