Public Speaking Showcase involves community, benefits students
Students at Illinois College displayed their presentation skills in front of a packed house of students, faculty, staff and Jacksonville community members during the sixth annual Public Speaking Showcase held on March 20 in Sibert Theatre.
Kallia Wright, associate professor of communication and rhetorical studies, expressed gratitude for everyone who participated on behalf of the Department of Communication and Rhetorical Studies and the Lambda Pi Eta Honor Society, who hosted the event. She said she was pleased that the event had so much support throughout the community and on campus, with several Illinois College staff members volunteering as judges during the competition.
Wright says that public speaking can be a difficult task, and the experience of gaining practice in front of an audience is an important achievement for students.
Kenzie Prewitt ’21, a psychology major, was honored with the top award and a cash prize for her persuasive speech about why people should learn sign language.
I loved participating in the competition and the experience helped me in many ways. Not only did I sharpen my speaking skills, it gave me experience speaking in front of a large crowd and what it’s like to give a big presentation. I also just gained a lot of confidence from it.
Prewitt aspires to earn her doctorate in psychology after graduation and to work in a field where she can help people, possibly as a criminal profiler or a psychiatrist. She believes the public speaking practice she is gaining at IC will help her in the workforce and with any work she does in the community.
Other winners of the Public Speaking Showcase include Madelyn Budd ’20 (second place), Jalen Ash ’20 (third place), Adrializ Acevedo ’20 (fourth place) and Andre Hester ’21 (fifth place).