Date: April 21, 2009
Contact: Carol Connelly, Director, Media & Communication Services, ext. 5267, cconnelly@pnc.edu

PNC Announces Hyde Park Forum and Speak-Off Winners

26th Hyde Park winners left to right: Amanda Kessinger, Jonathan Dwornik, Emily Lundstrom, Carol Ann Bossemeyer, Dr. Dan Wilbur, assistant professor of Communication. Download photo here.

WESTVILLE – The 26th Purdue University North Central Hyde Park Forum Public Speaking Contest concluded with Amanda Kessinger, of Chesterton, being named winner of the “Speak-Off” competition.

The Hyde Park Forum brings together PNC students who present short speeches on various topics of current interest. Many participants are students in PNC's Communication 114 class.

This was the seventh year that Hyde Park Forum's first-place winners were brought together for the Speak-Off to compete for cash awards.

Speak-Off winner Kessinger gave the speech on the topic " Smoking: Why Smoke?"; Second place went to Jonathan Dwornik, of Michigan City, who shared the message “Outlawing Smoking in Cars: Driven to Death." In third place was Emily Lundstrom, of Valparais , with "Pro Horse Slaughter." Fourth place went to Carol Ann Bossemeyer, of Michigan City , with "Domestic Violence: Join the Solution."

Overall second place Hyde Park Forum winners were – Heather Dombrowsky, LaPorte, who spoke on “Free Speech: Thou Shall Not Hate;” Aleda Douglas, of Portage, who spoke on “Heroin Addiction: Signs & Symptoms, Fact & Fiction;” Emily Hauber, of Michigan City, who presented “The Blood Water Mission;” Cassie Timm, of LaPorte, addressed “Paying Bills On Time: No More Stress.”

Overall third place Hyde Park Forum winners were – Justin Grubl, of Valparaiso, who spoke on “Tobbaco: Harmful Effects On The Body And Should It Be Legal?"; LaTonya Troutman, of Michigan City, chose the topic “Community Laws: Residents Beware;” Christina Roebuck, of LaPorte, who spoke about “Horseback Riding: Happy Trails;” Remingon Vandenburgh-O'Guin, of Valparaiso, presented the speech “Get Rid Of Ethnic Background Boxes.”

The Hyde Park Forum and Speak-Off are loosely based on London's Hyde Park, a public gathering place for speakers who wish to state their minds. Hyde Park has gained prominence as a reference to freedom of speech and intriguing speaking.

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