ISU students compete in Carlile Memorial Speaking Competition

The Idaho State University Department of Communication and Rhetorical Studies has announced the winners of the Clark S. Carlile Memorial Speaking Competition held in December.

The contest, sponsored by ISU's Department of Communication and Rhetorical Studies, offers six outstanding students from business and professional speaking classes an opportunity to compete for cash prizes.

Jacob Velasquez, a sophomore majoring in exercise science won first place with his presentation about the Hubble space telescope.  John Broadbent, a junior majoring in business management, was second with his explanation of ice hockey face-offs, and sophomore computer information systems major Lacey Wagner placed third with her speech about computer communication. They, and the other three competitors, bridged the gap between the lay audience and the highly technical information they were presenting by skillfully employing the techniques they’re learning in the classroom.

The contest's distinguished panel of judges, who were experts in several technical areas, consisted of Randy Gaines, chief information officer of ISU Information Technology Services; Susan Norby, occupational health nurse for Union Pacific Railroad; and Butch Hjelm, professor emeritus and former dean of the ISU College of Arts and Sciences.

Moderator Bruce Loebs, professor of communication and rhetorical studies, in addition to overseeing the event, noted that the contest is named in honor of the late Clark S. Carlile, emeritus professor, who taught for many years in the department and who, several years ago, provided a generous endowment to fund the awards.