Finalists from left, Allen Zhao, Ellie Wisniewski, Lena Sterling, Affan Rahman, Sarah Little, Nyasia Jenkins, Nicholas Fienemann, and Medha Dabral wait for the competition to begin in the Lilian Lodge Kopenhaver Center for Alumni Engagement. Glassboro, NJ. Thursday, April 24, 2025. - Photography Editor / Gavin Schweiger
On Thursday, April 24, Rowan’s Communications Studies Department held its second annual public speaking competition in Shpeen Hall where five students won a total of $3200.
Eight student finalists competed by giving a “TED-Talk” style speech for five to seven minutes on topics surrounding sustainability.
Four judges watched the speeches and picked out the winners.
The finalists spoke in a random order by picking up little cups with the numbered place they would go.
Speech topics ranged from environmental sustainability locally and in a wider area, to economic sustainability, and personal sustainability. The presenters’ years and majors varied just as much.
The judges determined each presentation’s score based on categories such as content, body language, and preparedness.
While there are some more “factual” categories like preparedness, a lot of public speaking is effective. Judge and founder of Philadelphia Press Ian Doyle talked about being objective in this regard.
“Reward people that have worked hard and that do a good job,” Doyle said. “Even if you don’t necessarily agree with their tilt.”
The audience gave “people’s choice” awards to sophomore biomedical engineering major Nicholas Fienemann and his speech about obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and junior psychology major Nyasia Jenkins and her speech about overcoming impostor syndrome. They earned $100 each.
Freshman biological sciences major Affan Rahman won third place with his speech about a zero-waste lifestyle, earning $500.
Junior biomedical engineering major Sarah Little earned second place with her speech about tipping inflation, earning $1,000.
Freshman radio, television, and film major Ellie Wisniewski won first place with her speech about how zoos contribute to conservation efforts, earning $1,500.
“I was really happy to be able to be a part of this because every single speech was really good,” Wisniewski said. “Everyone was so supportive and it was great to get to know the other contestants.”
Judge Kim Johnston, a Rowan grants, budget, and finance coordinator, agreed about the quality of the speeches.
“I’m very impressed with the speeches that I just heard,” Johnston said. “Some were only freshmen and they did a phenomenal job.”
Little also gave a speech last year when she was in a public speaking class before this year’s second-place win.
“This time, I had to actually make something new for the audition process,” Little said. “I took a lot of time memorizing over the past week, had to really cram it in.”
Little plans to put her winnings into her bartending business, which she wants to launch this summer.
Each presentation was also recorded for organizer Patricia Coughlan to send to the Norton Speaker’s Prize competition. She commented on the importance of the competition and public speaking as a whole.
“It’s [public speaking] a growth element in their professions, regardless of what their professions are,” Coughlan said. “We’re hoping that the public speaking competition raises awareness that it isn’t just about public speaking classes, one and done, it’s about something that you can do as a lifelong goal.”
Wisniewski thought the competition was important for her as well.
“I learned that with effort, preparation, and help with others, I can achieve a lot more than I would think,” Wisniewski said.
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