Less Social Media, More Talking - Delaney Speech Contest Winner Announced
Students Earn $1,300+ for Extemporaneous Speeches at Delaney Speech Contest
Personal and poignant stories ruled the day at the Annual Delaney Speech Contest on April 20 as students offered three to four minute persuasive talks to earn a share of the $1,350 in prize money.
Jamera Blackwell won First Prize ($550) for her extemporaneous speech on rape that covered the immense costs associated with the crime, including medical costs, therapy, and the emotional impact. She also talked about ways to prevent rape.
Frank Jankowski (Second Prize - $450) used personal anecdotes to illuminate the harm of sexual discrimination. Kaelin Garces (Third Prize - $350) talked about the importance of encryption technology, arguing that personal privacy outweighs government eavesdropping.
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Each contestant offers an original 3 to 4 minute extemporaneous speech on the topic of their choice. Students are asked to use notecards and not read a prepared speech. It's an attempt to push back at a world where reliance on social media means people are communicating through snaps, texts, and emojis and not actually speaking to each other. By contrast, St. Francis College is proud to keep alive this lost art of persuasive, public speaking.
The event is organized by St. Francis Communication Arts Professor Timothy Dugan and judged by a panel of St. Francis professors.
The Delaney Speech Contest is named for Francis Delaney, a St. Francis College Speech Professor during the 1950's and 60's who made it his mission to "cure" St. Francis students of their Brooklyn accents to help them get ahead in their careers. Delaney donated money to the school to help keep alive the fading art of persuasive speech.
"While the contest is named after Delaney, we no longer try to cure students of their accents," added Dr. Dugan. "Instead our focus is on turning our students into solid communicators, both orally and through the written word."
Attached photos: Jamera Blackwell, Frank Jankowski, Kaelin Garces
St. Francis College, founded in 1859 by the Franciscan Brothers of Brooklyn, is located in Brooklyn Heights, N.Y.Since its founding, the College has pursued its Franciscan mission to provide an affordable, high-quality education to students from New York City's five boroughs and beyond.
St. Francis College, 180 Remsen Street, Brooklyn Heights, NY 11201