The third annual Public Speaking Showcase, hosted by State Fair Community College’s Communications Studies, will feature speeches on a variety of topics including artificial intelligence, the history of agriculture, the power of language and the Fort Worth Stockyards.
The event, which is free and open to the public, will be at 6 p.m. Monday, May 6, in the Stauffacher Theatre on the Sedalia campus.
“We were able to increase the prizes for our top three finalists this year due to some, generous donations,” said SFCC Communication Instructor Sarah Nail, lead instructor of public speaking. “One of the things I value most about this event is that is highlights the work of students of all types – online, dual credit, main and extended campuses — in a variety of programs.”
Winners will receive prizes of $225, first place; $100, second place; $75, third place.
Students in all sections of public speaking offered during the academic year of fall 2023 and spring 2024 were invited to nominate the best speaker from their class as a semi-finalist.
The semi-finalists submitted a video of an informative or persuasive speech. These speeches were evaluated in three rounds. The judges selected five finalists to compete in the live showcase on May 6.
The finalists are Riley Heerdink, a first-year Associate of Arts student, from Clinton; Hetvi Thakkar, a first-year biology and biological sciences student from Rajkot, India; Ava Kirkpatrick, a first-year business marketing student from Peculiar; Alexa Phillips, a dual credit student from Clinton; and Gentrie Davis a dual-credit student from Marshall.
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