Student Participate in Hyde Park Speak Off

By: Lyndsie Daikhi

Posted: 4/28/09

The 26th annual Hyde Park Forum Public Speaking Contest, sponsored by the communications department, was held on April 15. There were several different rooms of speakers and each were judged and ranked. The four first place winners from each room competed in a "Speak Off" on April 17. Topics of the "Speak Off" ranged from horse slaughter to domestic abuse.

First place went to Amanda Kessinger, junior elementary education major. Kessinger's speech was based on a topic close to her heart. Kessinger discussed the dangers of smoking by giving real world examples of what happened to her father as a result of smoking.

Although Kessinger is an elementary education major she enjoys sharing, "I am confident and public speaking is something that I like to do."

Second place went to Jonathan Dwornik, a freshman pre-nursing major. Dwornik is currently a student communications 114 class and his speech was titled "Driven to Death". In his speech, Dwornik discussed how smoking in a car with children should be banned.

"I never smoke around my children. If my children want to smoke, then it should be there choice I should not force them to breathe my smoke," Dwornik said.

Third place went to Emily Lundstrom for her speech "Pro-Horse Slaughter". Lundstrom decided to focus her speech on horse slaughter because "it is a big part of the horse industry, which is an industry that is important to me."

Lundstrom is currently enrolled in communications 114 and was encouraged to speak in the Hyde Park Forum by Dr. Daniel Wilbur.

Fourth place went to Carol Ann Bossemeyer, freshman ECET major with a minor in communications. Bossemeyer's speech was titled "Join the Solution". The presentation centered on domestic violence and the effects on the friends and family of those involved.