The C. Howard Dorgan Oratory Contest will be held for the first time Wednesday, Feb. 22, from 6 to 8 p.m. in Plemmons Student Union.

Students will speak to Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Lori Gonzalez on a topic of their choice. The prompt will be “Dear Provost Gonzalez,” said Jeff Motter, assistant professor of communication, who is heading the competition.

Cash prizes will be given to the top three contestants. First place will receive $250, second place will receive $100 and third place will receive $50. 

Each contestant had to draft a ten-minute speech for the competition.  Auditions were held Feb. 13 and 16. Out of the 10 who auditioned, five were selected.

“We had people try out from all across campus,” Motter said. “So it is certainly not just a communication major thing.”

The contestants are Kara Flowers, a sophomore communication studies major; Laura Guidry, a sophomore global studies major; Jordan Steady, a freshman communication major; Annika Vest, a junior women’s studies major; and Samuel Williams, a senior political science major.

“I am very excited for this opportunity,” Steady said.  “I have been participating in youth and government and speech and debate throughout high school. That experience will aid me in this contest.”

The event will be held in the Blue Ridge Ballroom.

Three judges will sit in: Provost Lori Gonzalez; Terry Cole, a professor of communication and Town Councilman Andy Ball.

“I’m anxious to see what level of presentations the students give and then how they select their topics and then what their arguments are and their evidence that they provide,” Gonzalez said. “I think that will be very interesting.”

Motter said he expects a large turnout for the event.

There will be a reception after the contest with food and drinks.

Story: MARK KENNA, Intern News Reporter