By Huma Syed/reporter

Winning participants received scholarship grants in a speech contest April 3 on SE Campus.

Students prepared four- to six-minute persuasive speeches on the same general subject: Election Issues That May Change the Future.

Students who are taking Speech 1311, 1315 or 1321 this semester or those who took speech in the fall were eligible to participate, Ashley Alfaro, instructor, said. The entire speech department—Tonya Blivens, Courtney Kopecky, Pert Durapau, Stephen Brown and Alfaro put together the event.

Nine students participated, and each had to come up with their own speeches. Participants included Salma Haji, Dan Heck, Sherri McCullogh, Ian Pearce, Andy Pickett, Onrea Roach, Kyle Ross, Sarah Williamson and Dustin Waltasheid.

Pearce took home first place with his speech “U.S. Immigration Policy” and won $125 in scholarship money. Ross placed second with a win of $100 with “Tax Rebates.” Third place went to Heck. His “The Importance of Domestic Automobiles” won him $75.

The rest of the speakers were also given prizes and certificates from McGraw Hill and Cengage Learning.

Everyone on campus was invited to attend the event, but the majority of the audience comprised students currently taking speech and supporting a classmate.

“We had a good number in the audience, and the tournament was a definite success,” Alfaro said.

The department plans a similar tournament in the spring of 2009. To get more information, call Alfaro at 817-515-3774.