25th Annual Oratory Competition Offers Fresh Perspectives on Diversity

The Annual Oratory Competition has become an enjoyable springtime tradition at Pitt. Although there were adjustments in recent years to deal with the pandemic, the Oratory Competition returned to an in-person format in 2022, and the student response was outstanding. Twenty-two speakers competed on Saturday morning, April 9th, with the top speakers in each category recognized with Certificates of Achievement and cash prizes. The competing orators represented a variety of University of Pittsburgh schools and departments, emphasizing again how universally essential is the ability to communicate orally in any discipline, in any career. A complete winner’s list can be found below.

Thanks to a grant from the Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, a grant award endorsed by Diversity and Multi-Cultural Program Manager Mr. Ronald Idoko, the Department of Communication made the Diversity and Inclusion speeches a centerpiece of the event. This co-operative, inter-departmental approach culminated with Mr. Max Glider, Manager of Classroom Services, generously overseeing the videotaping of the winning Diversity speeches. They will shortly be posted to the Department of Communication website and to the OEDI website. We are grateful to both managers, and both offices, for their support and assistance.

Principal funding for the Oratory Competition came, as always, from Dean John Twyning’s office, and from the Department of Communication itself. Dean Twyning has always been very supportive of the Oratory Competition, and we owe him a continuing debt of gratitude.

Three students responded to the Call for Oratory with remarkable speeches in the category of Diversity and Inclusion: Mariam Ahmed, Sarah Bernholz, and Eric Shaker. Sophomore Communication and Urban Studies major Mariam Ahmed won the category with a moving speech entitled “Darkness Fading,” about her experiences in Chad observing but not understanding her female relative’s efforts to whiten their skin complexion in the misplaced belief that it made them more pleasing. Nothing, argued Ms. Ahmed, could be further from the truth, and she longed for the day that self-evident truth is realized. Junior Communication Science major Sarah Bernholz offered a powerful and thoughtful argument for the impact of tolerance, accommodation, and diversity beyond race and gender, for instance, as with autism spectrum disorders and ADHD, entitled “Thinking Outside of the Box: The Importance of Neurodiversity.” Sophomore Bioengineering major Eric Shaker addressed the troubling questions faced by those uncertain of which race they identify as their own, with a perceptive and deeply personal self-reflection entitled, “Wrestling With Race.”

Four graduating Communication majors wrote and performed excellent commencement addresses to embody the aspirations of all the 2022 Communication students leaving Pitt to embark upon what will surely be successful careers in many and various fields. Winners will be presenting their speeches at 3 pm on Saturday, April 30th, at the Department of Communication Annual Undergraduate Recognition Reception, an event for the graduates and their invited guests. Student speakers will include Kayla Henderson, Kaitlyn Nuebel, Megan Parr, and Griffin Floyd, all graduating Communication majors.

Three students, two of whom are First Years, placed winning speeches in the Ceremonial Values category including Mirabel Fizzano, a First Year who spoke appropriately of first year problems, Senior Anusri Nagalla, who eulogized her father, and First Year Ertan Li.

In the Persuasive Policy category, First Year Psychology major Chloe Troiano won top honors, Sophomore Economics and Statistics major Henry Bump took second place, and junior Psychology major Corie Miller won third place.

All eight judges were PhDs, a strong indication of the Department of Communication faculty commitment to undergraduate education.

Continental breakfast and pizza lunch were enjoyed by all.

Here is the list of all award-winning speakers and the presiding judges.

Diversity and Inclusion – Judges: Dr. Lynn Clarke and Dr. Elfriede Fursich

  1. Mariam Ahmed – “Darkness Fading”
  2. Sarah Bernholz – “Thinking Outside of the Box: The Importance of Neurodiversity”
  3. Eric Shaker – “Wrestling With Race”

Graduation/Commencement – Judges: Dr. Jerry Shuster and Dr. Lane Grafton

  1. Kayla Henderson “Change”
  2. Kaitlyn Nuebel – “Reconciling Graduation When You Really Didn’t Read (and lost other opportunities)”
  3. (tie) Griffin Floyd – “Reflections on My Pitt Experience”

(tie) Megan Parr – “Navigating the Future Using a Kansas Song – To the Class of 2022”

Ceremonial Speech on Values – Judges: Dr. Marianne Pabis and Dr. Curry Chandler

  1. Mirabel Fizzano – “Just a Freshman”
  2. Anusri Nagalla – “Eulogy About Father”
  3. Ertan Li – “The Fastest Person in Human History”

Persuasive Speech on Policy – Judges: Dr. Emily Herrington and Dr. Dan Beresheim

  1. Chloe Troiano – “The Speech That Can Save Lives”
  2. Henry Bump – “Policy for Eradicating America’s Pop-Demic, One Ounce at a Time”
  3. Corie Miller – “Be More Aware of Using Verbal Pauses”