Thank you for joining us at the Fall 2024 Public Speaking Competition!
The theme of this year's competition was "How My Cultural Identity Has Shaped Me." Each COMM 131 (Public Speaking) section selected a student with the best informative speech. From there, six finalists were chosen to compete. Once selected, each contestant was required to use the Public Communication Center to ensure their speech was competition ready. First, second, and third place won a prize of monetary value. The audience choice winner won a prize pack worth $50 from the UStore.
This year's judges were Sarah Parker-Hughes, Co-Director, Public Communication Center, Director of Commencement, and Faculty, Communication Studies; Gregory Dutcher, Adjunct Professor, Communication Studies; Kiara Anthony, Adjunct Professor, Communication Studies; and Great Oluwaferanmi, PCC Mentor and Mass Communication major
Titobiloluwa Edward, Information Technology major
Jayla Hankins, Chemistry and Communication Studies major
Lemuel Briston, Science Information Technology major
Kayla Ward, Sociology and Anthropology major
Ryan Riddell
Rose Kinder
Ikechukwu Ihejirika
Towson University's first annual Public Speaking Competition took place on April 16th, 2019. Competitor’s had to prepare a 5-8 minute persuasive speech which addresses at least one of the core tenets of the Department of Communication Studies curriculum: advocacy and public discourse, identity and culture, and leadership and organizational communication.
Rebecca preformed a moving speech titled “Read My Lips.” Malstrom illustrates how her experience as a member of the deaf community is shaped by the expectation that she reads the lips of the hearing individuals around her.
Brandon gave his speech titled “Sneaker Culture.” He captured the audience by describing the relationship between sneaker culture and the African American culture.
Ilya demonstrated how one can defy the odds by “Ignoring the What If’s.” Ilya compares his own experience to the expectations of society, and shows the audience what is possible if they believe in themselves and ignore preconceived notions.