(L-R) Santa Monica College students Arturo Muyshondt wins 2nd place, Maddy Smith wins 1st place and Andie Medine wins 3rd of the persuasive speech during a public speaking tournament that took place at Humanities Social & Science building in Santa Monica, Calif. on Friday, May 24, 2024. (Karen Lopez | The Corsair)

On May 24, Santa Monica College (SMC) faculty members announced Maddy Smith and Sarah Ko as the two students who took first place in the end-of-semester speech competition. Arturo Musyshondt and Nova Anderson finished second, and Andie Medina and Lilly Ryf were third place. The event began with 15 student participants delivering informative or persuasive speeches.

The students were divided into two groups based on the type of speech they were presenting. The players competing in the tournament were all from the Communication Studies 11 classes, or Elements of Public Speaking, and were judged by faculty members involved in SMC’s speech and debate club.

The hostess of this traditional occasion was SMC speech professor Julie Chekroun. She said, “The main purpose is to give a chance for our top performing students who are taking public speaking to compete in an informal speech tournament so it’s a different experience from having to deliver a speech in a class they are now competing with other top performing students from other classes.”

The speeches, specifically from the persuasive category, touched on various social issues, including generational poverty and the lack of financial literacy among young people.

Students were challenged to effectively present a speech about their selected topic in under 7 minutes. After 15 minutes of deliberation, SMC English major Maddy Smith was awarded the first-place title for her speech on generational poverty.

When asked why she chose to speak about this topic, Smith mentioned how when she was younger, she struggled financially and felt it was necessary to speak about the people she was around and lived around, and how they did not have the same opportunities or guidance that prompted her to move to California to pursue an education. Smith said “I think anyone is capable of doing what I’m doing, they just don’t have the knowledge to do it”.

Public speaking is known to be a pressure cooker that can provoke a severe amount of anxiety that affects many students. This tournament was no different, but many of the competitors devised their strategy to overcome it. Matthew Henry, a participant in this year’s tournament, said, “I get anxious before every speech, but I’ve learned that the more I practice the less intense the anxiety becomes.”

Many of the contestants departed the competition with not only extra credit and a medal, but also with newfound perspective.

Smith said, “Whether your opinion is not popular, whether it’s controversial, do not be afraid to say it if you believe it is the right thing. If you think it’s the more ethical position, if you truly believe in it, say it, and you’ll provoke other people to do the same.”

As the semester comes to a close, Chekroun reflected on the importance of public speaking. “Public speaking is important in your professional life, as a student, as a member of your community, so it will always be crucial for students to develop and refine their public speaking skills.”

The next public speaking contest will take place this fall, and Chekroun is excited to assist students to refine and develop their public speaking skills.

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