Date:
April 19, 2005
Contact: Carol Connelly, Director,
Media & Communication Services, ext. 5267, cconnelly@pnc.edu
PNC Announces Hyde Park Forum and Speak-Off Winners
Left to right-Laura Nirenberg, Jennifer Byrne-Stasiek,
Tim Hyde and Brenda Patterson
Download photo here.
|
WESTVILLE – The 22nd Purdue University North Central Hyde Park Forum Public Speaking Contest concluded with Laura Nirenberg, of LaPorte, being named winner of the “Speak-Off” competition.
The Hyde Park Forum brings together students who present short speeches on various topics of current interest. Many participants are students in PNC’s Communication 114 class.
This was the third year that Hyde Park Forum’s first-place winners were brought together for the Speak-Off to compete for cash awards.
Nirenberg’s speech was, entitled, “Misplaced Priorities,” which centered on the topic of animal rights. Second place went to Jennifer Byrne-Stasiek, Valparaiso, who addressed welfare reform in her presentation, “Taking Welfare Reform to School.” Third place winner, Tim Hyde, Portage, spoke about the death penalty with “Death Penalty: Stop the Violence!” And Brenda Patterson, Valparaiso, was fourth with “Who's Life Can You Change?” which presented a look at organ and tissue donation.
Other Hyde Park Forum winners and their speech topics were:
Overall second place Hyde Park Forum winners were – Jamie Fabrowicz, LaPorte, “Lifesaver;” Chip Cotman, Michigan City, “Following in Footsteps;” Jennifer Hullinger, Michigan City, “Chewing the Fat: The Danger of Hydrogenated Oil;” Kathryn Beavin, Wanatah. “We are so Vain.”
Overall third place Hyde Park Forum winners were – Becky Zurawski, LaPorte, “Can Kindness Be Taught?”; Jeramy Cruz, Michigan City, “Laptop Computers;” Abigail Fierst, Valparaiso, “Protect Our Furry Friends;” Sara Lang, Valparaiso, “Abortion, Birth Control or Murder.”
The Hyde Park Forum and Speak-Off are sponsored by the PNC Communication Department, the Alumni Association and Chancellor James B. Dworkin. Coordinator is Dr. Scott Smithson, associate professor of communication and acting chair of the communication department. Judges included faculty, staff and PNC students. The contest is 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.
#
Identification for photo: Laura Nirenberg, Jennifer Byrne-Stasiek, Tim Hyde and Brenda Patterson.
