April 22, 2008
Hervey Ross Oratorical Contest brings historic speeches to life
Eight Clark University undergraduates each made powerful presentations in the fourth annual Hervey Ross Oratorical Contest, held April 8 in the Little Center Theatre. The contest fosters the art of public speaking and oratory and is open to all Clark students. The theme of this year’s contest was "Equality, Justice, Freedom." The eight finalists were judged on their oratory skills as well as speech interpretation.
Nicholas Kerwin '08 earned first prize of $500. He skillfully delivered "Examining Yourself," a speech given by Cornel West, Princeton University Professor of Religion and African American Studies, at Brown University in February 2007. Kerwin, who majors in Communication and Culture with a minor in Spanish, also won the award for audience favorite.
Second prize ($250) went to Theater Arts major Daniel Derks '09, who gave the "Yippie Workshop" speech by Abbie Hoffman in 1968.
Robert Donnelly '09 garnered third prize ($150) with his delivery of British Prime Minister Tony Blair's keynote address from the 2007 Stonewall Equality Dinner. Donnelly is double-majoring International Development and Environmental Science.
Visual & Performing Arts professor Gino DiIorio organized the competition, in which students were asked to present a five- to seven-minute speech originally performed by any world political figure, including candidates for office as well as those involved in political movements.
Hervey Ross, who attended Worcester Academy and joined Clark University's Class of 1950, sponsors the contest. After the speeches, he spoke to the students about his love of public speaking and experience winning a competition as a Clark freshman.
Also competing were Hannah Salzman-Gubbay '09, Mary Townsend '08, Pamela Taylor '09 Abhishek Raman '09, and Patrecia Ming '08.
This year's judges included: Stacie Beland, Secretary, Office of the President; Professor Barbara Bigelow, Graduate School of Management; Stephen Goulet, Chief of University Police; Jeanne Kissane, Major Gifts Officer and Development Writer, University Advancement; Kevin McKenna, Associate Dean of the College and Director of Academic Advising; Associate Professor Deborah Merrill, Sociology Department; and Walter Wright, Dean of the College.