Presenter of the Year Competition Held Dec. 1

The competition's top three competitors, from left, Grace Scognamilio, Sai Vanteru and Trinity Walker.
Photo Submitted

The competition's top three competitors, from left, Grace Scognamilio, Sai Vanteru and Trinity Walker.

The Business Communication Lab at the Sam M. Walton College of Business and the University of Arkansas Department of Communication hosted the annual Presenter of the Year Competition on Dec. 1.

Support was provided by the University of Arkansas Bookstore, which donated items for prizes, and by Leadership Walton, whose students volunteered to help staff the event.

Contestants were Walton College students who were currently enrolled in a public speaking course (COMM 1313). The competition had three rounds, including the finals, and each student delivered a six- to eight-minute persuasive speech. Contestants' speeches advocated a solution to a problem faced by Northwest Arkansans, and the speech topics varied widely from water conservation to law enforcement to airline safety.

This competition provides students with the opportunity to practice presentation skills in front of a live audience and also rewards students who deliver excellent speeches. Students benefit by improving their public speaking skills and the university community benefits by hearing the solutions that students advocate.

Sai Vanteru delivered the winning speech, receiving a $400 bookstore gift card; Grace Scognamilio came in second, winning $250 in bookstore merchandise; Trinity Walker placed third, receiving a $100 bookstore gift card. Kiara Lozano-Santiago, Grace Crain and Rebecca Carroll also presented in the final round.

Special judges for the final round were Lynn Meade, Department of Communication; Diana Brown, director of production at the Walton Arts Center; and Aidan Smith, a Walton sophomore marketing major who was last year's winner.

"Public speaking is something most students dread doing in class, much less in front of an audience of 80 strangers and fellow competitors," said Ryan Sheets, director of the Business Communication Lab. "I applaud the finalists and other competitors who overcame their fear of public speaking and delivered such insightful, engaging presentations."

Details on the event can be found by visiting its webpage.

Contacts

Ryan Sheets, director, Business Communication Center
Walton College of Business
479-575-5211, fsheets@uark.edu

David Speer, senior director of communications
Sam M. Walton College of Business
479-575-2539, dlspeer@uark.edu

Headlines

The World as a Classroom: The Executive M.B.A. Program at U of A

The program, offered through the Sam M. Walton College of Business, blends online learning with face-to-face interaction and applied studies in a real-time international immersion trip.

Keri Blakinger, Author of 'Corrections in Ink,' to Speak at Fayetteville Public Library April 22

Blakinger, an award-winning journalist now at the Los Angeles Times, will talk about her memoir and her work as a reporter at 6 p.m. April 22 at the Fayetteville Public Library's Walker Community Room.

Visit With University Libraries and Pat Walker Health Center's Medical Services at Carnival Today

Employees are invited to meet fellow workers from units across campus including the University Libraries and the Pat Walker Health Center at today's Making Your Day Work Carnival at the Arkansas Union.

Farewell Reception April 3 for Fulbright College's Lisa Summerford

The campus community is invited to celebrate Summerford's achievements and to wish her well during a drop-in retirement reception from 3:30-5 p.m. Wednesday, April 3, in the Fulbright College Dean's Office in Old Main 523.

Rachel McGathy Retiring After 25 Years

There will be a reception to celebrate McGathy's retirement from 2:30-4:30 p.m. Friday, March 29, in the downstairs breakroom at Uptown East.

News Daily