Annual Public Speaking Contest
SLU students shared their unique talents at the 2nd Annual Public Speaking Contest on November 19, 2024. Students from across campus were invited to present a speech on any topic, from any class, and this year’s participants delivered! Speakers shared their passion for the environment, their community, and helping those in need. Speeches tackled tough issues including climate change and school shootings.
Following a competitive preliminary round, seven students advanced to the final round where they competed for cash prizes. The finalists represented every class, from first years to seniors. The finalists included Keady Azzam, Meaghen Baldwin, Dylan Bird, Matthew Brinck, Alex Ferguson, Adaleigh Novak, and Jabari Sewell. Each speaker showcased their unique speaking style while sharing the knowledge they’ve gained through their classes at SLU.
Seven Performance and Communication Arts professors judged the final round to determine who was awarded first ($300), second ($200), and third ($100) places. Additionally, an engaged audience voted on an Audience Choice ($300) winner. The Maurer Family Foundation generously provided the prize money.
Among the well-crafted and expertly spoken speeches, four stood above the rest. Matthew Brink, a first year who plans to double major in PCA and Music, took third prize for his innovative speech about bringing extinct animals back to the world. Adaleigh Novak, a senior PCA and Business double major, earned second place for her persuasive speech about alternative lawns. Dylan Bird, a sophomore Global Studies and Spanish double major, took the top position for his moving speech calling for action to prevent school shootings. Finally, Jabari Sewell, a sophomore English and Political Science double major, captured the audience with his moving poetry about love, earning him the Audience Choice award.
At SLU, students learn skills and information, but they also learn how to communicate what they’ve learned. Students can refine their communication skills by taking PCA 111: Rhetoric and Public Speaking.
2024 Public Speaking Contest Finalists
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Performance and Communication Arts and Business double major
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Hometown: Holland, MI
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Speech Topic: Alternative Lawns
Why I participated: I chose to participate in the contest because of my public speaking class. It has been fun to learn about public speaking and I felt that I had been doing good at giving speeches in class, so I decided to see if I could use the skills I gained in a different context.
Advice for Public Speakers: My advice for public speakers, and anyone learning to do public speaking is to not be afraid to put yourself out there. Public speaking is a lot like acting in the sense that it is fun when you choose to have fun with it. Your audience can tell if you are passionate about your speech and if you are afraid to take risks they might not be as engaged. "
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Major: Global Studies and Spanish double major
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Hometown: Winstead, CT, but originally from the United Kingdom
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Speech Topic: Gun Violence
Why I participated: I chose to participate in the speech after hearing about it from my professor Tyler Rife, and I wanted to get out of my comfort zone and try it out.
Advice for public speakers: If I were to give any advice to public speakers - just have fun and forget about the nervousness because at the end of the day, any speech is not going to make or break you as a person!
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Major: English and Political Science
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Hometown: Kingston, Jamaica
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Title of Piece: light ray
Why I participated: Seemed like fun and I wanted to read my poetry to everyone
Advice for public speakers: Enjoy it. Whatever you speak about, enjoy the experience; the thrill before you speak, the eyes watching you, and the ears listening-remember to have fun!
- Double Major in Performance & Communication Arts and Music
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Hometown: Whitesboro, New York
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Speech Topic: Bringing Extinct Animals Back to the World
Why I participated: I was really on the fence about participating until a couple days out. My amazing Rhetoric & Public Speaking professor Ashley Rife sent me an encouraging email to enter the contest so I did!
Advice for public speakers: If you're on the fence like I was, just do it! You have nothing to lose, and you'll have a great time participating!
2024 Annual Public Speaking Contest
2024 Annual Public Speaking Contest Award Winners
Left to right: Dylann Bird, Adaleigh Novak, Matthew Brinck, and Jabar Sewell
