Students invited to compete in fourth annual public speaking contest

11:28 a.m., March 17, 2016--The fourth annual Now Hear This UD! student public speaking contest at the University of Delaware will be held Thursday evening, April 14.

The contest is open to all students on campus, who can enter using this form. Auditions will be held Monday, March 21. 

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University of Delaware graduates planning to attend Alumni Weekend are encouraged to register for the annual Blue Hen 5K walk and run, which will be held Sunday morning, June 5.

June 6-9: Food and culture series

The 20th annual June Lecture Series at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UD in Wilmington will be held June 6-9. Titled 'June a la Carte,' this year's program focuses on great political documents, feminism, world politics and a Newark cuisine sampler.

• June 6-9: Food and culture series
• Through June 30: 'Saving White Clay Creek'
• July 22: WWE Heatwave Tour
• Through Sept. 16: Women of color in academia

The contest will again have a theme of diversity and inclusion but this year with a focus on community building.

The theme of this year’s contest -- SpeakUpUDforF*R*I*E*N*D*S* -- was chosen by trainees for the student peer tutoring organization, the Oral Communication Fellows.

The purpose of this competition is not just to find the best public speaker but rather to showcase the value of communication and committed effort from all to foster inclusion in a diverse community.

The contest is scheduled from 5:30-7 p.m., Thursday, April 14, in 140 Smith Hall.

Organizers anticipate having 7-10 excellent speakers in the contest, which will last approximately one hour and will be followed by an awards presentation. 

Last year more than 350 students attended the contest and organizers said that is a key component in the success of the event.

Now Hear This UD! is sponsored by the Department of Communication and the Center for Political Communication, and thanks to the sponsors free UD Creamery ice cream will be available to all attendees. The contest will also coincide with this semester’s Communication and Lambda Chi Alpha food drive, supporting the Food Bank of Delaware.

This is a particularly good year for the contest and theme, as the vice provost for diversity has scheduled April 12 for additional events bringing the issues of hate speech, free speech and responsible communication on campus to the fore.

For additional information about the public speaking contest, contact Tracey Holden, assistant professor of communication, at tqholden@udel.edu.