Public Speaking Contest
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April 10, 2012
Alex Smith wins 2012 Smith-Merritt Public Speaking Contest
A freshman from Charleston is the winner of the 2012 Smith-Merritt Public Speaking Contest, conducted by the Eastern Illinois University Department of Communication Studies.
Alex Smith, a Health Studies Pre-Med major from Charleston High School, received first place for his speech against standardized testing in schools. As the winner, he received a certificate and $500.00. Alex is pictured above with contest co-sponsor, Dr. Calvin Smith.
Second place went to Mary Jo Worthington, a junior Marketing major from Rushville, who received a certificate and $300.00. The third place speaker was Laramie Immel, a freshman Chemistry major from Carmi, who received $100 and a certificate.
The contest was open to students enrolled in Public Speaking (CMN 1310) during the Spring Semester of 2012. Other finalists who competed on Tuesday evening were:
- Katherine Eckberg, sophomore Special Education major from Batavia (Aurora Rosary HS)
- Darius Lee Francis, freshman Communication Studies major from Monee (Crete Monee HS)
The contest is sponsored by and named in honor of Dr. Calvin Smith and Dr. Floyd Merritt, who are both emeritus faculty in the Department of Communication Studies.
Contest Finalists (Left to Right): Darius Lee Francis, Katherine Eckberg, Alex Smith, Laramie Immel, Mary Jo Worthington.
Previous Winners of Smith-Merritt Public Speaking Contest:
1993: Aleka Karachalios
1994: Dana Taylor
1995: Dawn Huddleston
1996: Shelly Ng
1997: Sandra Zumbahlen
1998: Lisa Shumard
1999: Amanda Zuber
2000: Jessica Shields
2002: Gabriel Holmes
2003: Megan Smith
2004: Danielle Blackburn
2005: Shannon Inboden
2006: Nicole Barber
2007: Emily Immel
2008: Emily Steele
2009: Tim Aberle
2011: Darnell Tyms
2012: Alex Smith
