The Public Communication Center is proud to host Towson University’s annual Public Speaking Competition in the spring term.
The speech topic reflects the pillars of College of Fine Arts and Communications. Once selected, each contestant must utilize the Public Communication Center to ensure their speech is competition ready. First, second and third place win a prize of monetary value.
Share what diversity looks like through your eyes! There are three check prizes of $300, $200, and $100 for the top three contestants. The final competition location and date is TBD.
Contestants will prepare a five to eight minute speech to share their experience of what diversity means to them through their experience(s). The competition location and time will be posted soon.
Students from all majors are welcome to apply. Competitors can win one of three checks between $100 and $300!
| Diversity through your eyes | details |
|---|---|
| The Topic: | Write a 5-8 minute speech that highlights what diversity means to you through your unique experiences. |
| Speech Specifications: | The speech can, but is not limited to, include persuasive and vivid language, oral citations from accredited sources, elements of spoken word poetry, and other performative aspects. There are not visual aid capabilities in the final competition space. |
| Expectations for Competition: | Students will prepare their speeches in an extemporaneous style of delivery and can have note cards for the competition. |
Submit the title and summary of your speech in less than 250 words to register for
auditions! Click here to submit!
Audition location and time are TBD.
The judges are yet to be announced for the 2nd Annual Public Speaking Competition.
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.
The judges were Marissa Berk-Smith, Ron Matlon, Erin Miller and Bethany Pace. The Public Speaking Competition was sponsored by the Department of Communication Studies and the COFAC Diversity and Inclusion Committee.