The COM 1100 Speech Contest was held Wednesday, October 23rd. Six finalists advanced from a semi-final round held on Monday, October 21st.  Contestants were selected out of COM 1100 to present the informative speech they prepared for class.

The finalists were:

• Olivia Olsen – The Art of Dreams
• Laura Abbott – The Political Issues Destroying the Amazon Rainforest
• Ryan Opperman – The Science and History of the Fastball
• Campbell Jenkins – Deepfakes
• Maddie Ross – The Treatment of the Orphaned and Disabled in China
• Adriana Calzavara- Dream Theory

Professor Jason Stahl, coach of Belmont’s Speech & Debate Team, judged the final round along with two Speech & Debate Team members,  Alexandar Baynum and Marissa Avnaim.

Adriana Calzavara (a communication studies minor) placed first, Maddie Ross placed second, and Ryan Opperman placed third. Along with bragging rights and a resume-builder, winners took home Amazon.com gift cards.

Lambda Pi Eta members, Margaret Hoyt, Megan Montgomery, and McKayla Kirk volunteered for the event. Kirk served as Master of Ceremonies for the event.

Videos of the finalists’ speeches can be found here.