Kent State Student Speeches Delighted this Judge

This week I had the pleasure of being impressed by a handful of powerful student orators by serving as a judge in Kent State University's Hyde Park Forum.

The forum, a long-standing tradition at Kent State recently revived, gives students in the College of Communication and Information the chance to persuade an audience of more than 700 on a topic close to the speaker's heart.

Hundreds filled the Kent State Student Center Ballroom Thursday night to hear their fellow students speak passionately about topics ranging from the mysterious disappearance of honey bees, to hurtful language and how to pick the best puppy for your home.

Special education major Lindsey Shook's strong yet rhythmic delivery of her speech, Spread the Word to End the Word, earned her first-place honors. Shook, who also took home the People's Choice Award — bestowed by the hundreds in attendance — showed us all the damaging and hurtful consequences a simple word can have on another human being.

Hallie Rasner, a visual communication and design major, convinced me that reality TV shows can be more damaging to society as a whole than one might think and took home second-place honors. Natalie DeGenova, a broadcast journalism major, took home third place honors with her speech Celebrities Above the Law. 

The top three students earned $500, $300 and $100 scholarships.

The six other speakers, impressive in their own right, were: 

• Cassandra Mejia, exploratory major – Know the breed before you buy
• John Stahl, finance major – Space exploration
• Lauren Nervo, early childhood education major – Texting and Driving Could Lead to a Dead End
• Rachel Morrell, communication studies major – Adopt-A-Bull: Your New Best Friend
• Taylor Heibertshausen, hospitality management major – Raising Chickens:  Becoming Healthy, Wealthy and Wise While Still Sleeping In
• Amber Bucher, news major– Honey Bees

As an alumnus of the communication school I left the forum thoroughly confident in the future graduates of Kent State's communications college. 

As an audience member I left thinking differently about my dogs, texting behind the wheel, the importance of honey bees and why I should support NASA.