Six Point Loma Nazarene University students delivered informational speeches in Salomon Theatre as part of the Communication Department’s first bi-annual LOMA Talks event last month.
On Nov. 20, a panel of faculty judges evaluated the COM 1000: Principles of Human Communication students’ speeches, and the competition concluded with cash prizes and desserts.
John Capra, PLNU assistant professor of communication studies and spearhead of LOMA Talks, said the student speakers were selected through a process where faculty evaluated speeches from all 19 sections of COM 1000.
Professors identified the top performer from each of their sections, creating the first pool of candidates. Those students then submitted video recordings of their speeches for a preliminary review. From there, a group of faculty members each evaluated three speeches and forwarded their top two, resulting in a final group of six presenters.
Grace Bovey, a first-year finance major, won first place and a $500 prize. Her speech outlined the goals and successes of Vision House, a nonprofit Christian organization dedicated to assisting the homeless populations in Renton and Shoreline, Wash.
“I have served there, and I love what they do, and I love the founders,” Bovey said. “And I just think it’s such an amazing mission that a lot of people can honestly be a part of and do themselves in their own hometowns.”
Bovey said she was surprised at her first-place victory.
“I just never thought I would be good at public speaking, so it’s kind of cool to see that I got recognized for it,” she said.
LOMA Talks participants delivered their speeches by memory to an almost packed Salomon Theatre. Capra said the jump from his class to a larger audience could be stressful for some.
“I hope it really just continued to instill their confidence as speakers to show them that they can do hard things,” Capra said.
Bovey said she felt nervous about presenting to a larger crowd and rehearsed many times.
“It felt so much different than in the classroom, but it was nice that I did get to present in the classroom before,” she said. “And then me and Isabella actually practiced together in [Salomon Theatre].”
Bovey said she focused most on practicing the story of Doris, a homeless single mother striving to provide a better life for her son. Vision House supported her through classes and counseling, helping her earn a license, pay off debt, buy a car, pursue training and eventually secure a full-time job.
“When you’re hearing about someone’s actual, individual story that’s in real time … you can connect to it more,” Bovey said.
Isabella Brandberg, a first-year liberal studies: teacher education major, was awarded the third-place prize of $100. Her speech outlined the science of play and how important it is for adults to remain active and engage in playful activities as they get older.
“Especially college students, we get so busy in our lives, and we forget to take time for ourselves and do something fun,” she said.
Brandberg chose her topic following conversations with her mom and from her interest in both education and psychology. Like Bovey, she felt a wave of nerves before giving her speech.
“It was definitely more nerve-racking knowing that there was just going to be a lot more people … but I definitely felt God’s peace once I got up there, and it was calm,” Brandberg said.
She said she focused on her introduction and first minute of her speech, following her professor’s advice that beginning confidently and accurately sets the tone for the rest of the presentation.
“I made sure to know that part really well because I knew if I didn’t have to stress about that, I could get through the rest of my speech not stressing quite as much,” Brandberg said.
Bovey and Brandberg both said they focused on specific gestures and vocal variety during their speeches. These were practices they learned in their COM 1000 courses.
“Really making eye contact with people is a big thing,” Bovey said. “I feel like when I’m in the audience, and the speaker doesn’t even look my direction, it’s harder for me to pay attention.”
Capra said he hopes participants grew from this experience.
“I hope that the students had the opportunity today to see how well received each of their speeches was, and that they can give a presentation to a room as large as this … and they had resounding applause across the board,” he said.
Brandberg said there was a special sense of camaraderie among the group of contestants.
“The community spirit of it, just being with the other competitors — we were all nervous, but we were all doing it together and then supporting each other,” she said.
Capra said the event went well and shared his aspirations for future competitions.
“I’m hoping that as we repeat this event, every term, that we start to kind of have an awareness, have a presence here on campus, and grow this to whatever it can become,” he said. “I just want … to showcase student work in whatever way we can.”
Bovey said she learned she can be reliant on God, even in times of high anxiety.
“It’s just really cool to see how [God] works,” she said. “Although I did still feel nervous, I feel like when I rely on him, I’m more at peace.”
The LOMA Talks speech competition is expected to return next semester.
