Rutgers University undergraduate students representing a variety of academic majors ‘spoke up’ by participating in the annual Public Speaking Competition hosted by the SC&I Department of Communication. This year, the competition’s theme was “Inspire, Persuade, Deliver.”

The contest was organized by SC&I Teaching Instructor of Communication, faculty advisor for the Rutgers Public Speaking Organization, and alumna Erin Christie, Ph.D.’14, and Public Speaking Course Coordinator and Associate Teaching Professor of Communication Nikolaos Linardopoulos.

Wasi Ullah SAS'27, who is majoring in history and political science and placed first among the finalists, said, "I found out about the contest through Professor Jaffe who encouraged me to give it a shot. Public speaking is a craft that I'm always looking to improve upon and this was a wonderful opportunity to do so. I came in with a good bit of public speaking experience from my time in mock trial, but this contest came with the challenge of altering my presentation style from what I was used to. Something that Professor Jaffe greatly helped me with. As I continue to compete for the Rutgers Mock Trial team and with the goal of doing litigation work as a lawyer, it is safe to say that the skills I refined in this competition will be invaluable in the future." 

The annual competition is open to all Rutgers University students who have taken or are enrolled in the SC&I Public Speaking course (380).

This year, the competition’s theme was “Inspire, Persuade, Deliver.”

“The annual public speaking competition offers Rutgers students an opportunity to practice and demonstrate the skills they have learned in class,” Christie said. “Developing proficiency in public speaking is a valuable skill the contest participants can add to their resumes and use indefinitely to boost their professional or academic careers.”

This year rounds one and two of the competition were held virtually, and the final round was held at SC&I in person on April 18, 2024. 74 students registered, and 56 submitted speeches to enter the first round, and five finalists received scholarship prizes.

“To enable the students build their skills,” Christie said, “There is an expectation that all the students who advance to the final round will deliver speeches face-to-face during the final round, so they gain the experience of preparing for and speaking in public before an in-person audience.”

“Developing proficiency in public speaking is a valuable skill the contest participants can add to their resumes and use indefinitely to boost their professional or academic careers.”

The judges for the preliminary round were instructors from the SC&I Public Speaking course (380), and the final round judges were Chair and Professor of Communication Marya Doerfel; 380 instructor Tara Skiba; and the first-place winner from last year’s public speaking contest, Halé Oal ’25.

The students were judged on three elements: content, delivery, and effectiveness. Speeches were required to include at least two oral citations and remain under seven minutes long.

Eden Greenfest, who came in third place in the competition and won the popular vote, said, "Participating in the contest was an incredible experience for me. I entered because I wanted to challenge myself and my fear of public speaking. The process as well as the encouragement I received from my professor, peers, and fellow contestants greatly contributed to my growth in confidence and this valuable skill. As for my future plans, I am indeed considering a career where public speaking skills would be valuable. The contest has reinforced my interest in pursuing opportunities that involve public speaking, such as roles in marketing, business, and communications."  Greenfest's major is undecided and she anticipates graduating in 2026. 

"I greatly enjoyed participating in this contest," said Stephen Lopez, who is majoring in Exercise Science. "Professor Jaffe encouraged me to enter at the end of last semester, and after the incredibly positive experience I had in her class I thought I would give it a shot. I think I learned a lot from the other finalists, as we all have very different styles of speaking. Some of us were performers while others were more metered and analytical. It was interesting to see different people excelling at the same task in such contrasting ways. In a career that is based on working with clients, most of my interactions will be one on one or with a small group of people. If I take my career in fitness to the more educational route, or I teach more classes as I am now for Rutgers Rec, I will wind up speaking to large groups on a regular basis. Regardless of which direction I go, I think this contest has sharpened my communication skills and has prepared me for the future." 

Deven Sukhdeo, whose major is currently undecided, said, "Public speaking is something that has always mystified me. I work as a photographer and often find myself directing clients and in meetings, and I spent much of my career wanting to become a more effective speaker. While public speaking was never a weakness for me, I always struggled to be effective and take charge in unpredictable and difficult situations. Thanks to my wonderful teacher, Professor Goldberg, and in preparation for the contest, I really bunkered down and took a deep dive into facing challenges and figuring out how I can best improve. I had a fantastic time at the competition, and everyone from the judges to the other contestants were extremely kind. I was more than happy to come in 5th place- the winners were well deserving."

The 2024 finalists were:

First Place:  

Wasi Ullah               

Instructor: SC&I Lecturer Azriela Jaffe

Prize: $800 

Second Place: 

Aaron Cruz        

Instructor: Jaffe             

Prize: $500 

Third Place: 

Eden Greenfest       

Instructor: Jaffe            

Prize: $300 

Fourth Place:  

Stephen Lopez     

Instructor: Jaffe            

Prize: $250 

Fifth Place:  

Deven Sukhdeo       

Instructor: SC&I Lecturer Michael Goldberg    

Prize: $150 

Learn more about the Communication Department at the Rutgers School of Communication and Information on the website.

Photo: Wasi Ullah. Courtesy of Nikolaos Linardopoulos.