Six Hamilton students were awarded prizes in the 2005 Hamilton Public Speaking Competition on Saturday, March 5. The Chapel was filled with friends and parents for the final round of the annual competition for three public speaking prizes. Trix Smalley P '93, a member of Hamilton's board of trustees, served as a judge. All winners will be recognized at the 2005 Class and Charter Day ceremony.
The winners in the three competitions were Catherine Pallin '07, The Warren Wright Prize; Jovan Livada '08, Scott Iseman '07, Matt Colman '06 and Nate Adler '05, The McKinney Prizes; and Jonathan Rick '05, The Clark Prize.
The Warren Wright Prize
Established in honor of Warren E. Wright, the Upson Professor of Rhetoric and Oratory at Hamilton from 1977 to 1993, this speaking prize was first awarded in 1993.
All full-time students who have taken, or are currently taking one of two courses in public speaking in the Department of Rhetoric and Communication were eligible to compete. The speech was to be an informative (rather than persuasive) speech on a socially significant issue of current interest. Speeches had to focus on an issue that the public presently confronts and deal with that issue in a thoughtful manner. One $2,000 prize was awarded. Five students competed in final round
The McKinney Prizes
Charles McKinney signed an agreement in 1878 which allowed Hamilton to claim a portion of his estate for the purpose of establishing these prizes. His intent was to have the prizes "stimulate the undergraduates of said College to diligence and proficiency in that department [oratory]." All full-time Hamilton students were eligible.
One McKinney prize is awarded to each class and 16 students competed in the final round.
Criteria for the McKinney speaking competition was: The topic was to focus on a persuasive (rather than an informative) speech. The topic should have relevance and interest for a Hamilton College audience and should be presented in a manner appropriate for the occasion and setting. Four McKinney Prizes of $725 each were awarded to a contestant from each class.
The Clark Prize
This prize was originally established through a gift from Aaron Clark in 1859. It was later reestablished in 1892 through a gift from the Fayerweather estate. In the 1920s, the prize amount was "$50 given to each appointee and an additional $100 to the winner." Over time, the fund has grown considerably, now offering a $1,000 prize to the competition's winner. The Clark competition is open to the class of 2005. This year's topic was "Who is in Charge of the Future?" One $1,000 prize was awarded. Two students competed in the final round.
In each competition, students were judged on adaptation, organization, development, delivery, and style, as well as the speech's suitability for the assigned task and appropriateness for the audience and occasion.
