On Feb. 24, 19 contestants vied for the opportunity to compete in the final round of Hillsdale College’s Edward Everett Oratory Competition.
“The competition went really well and we had a great turnout,” an advisor for the speech department said. “The speeches looked pretty strong and everyone’s doing a really good job.”
This year’s final competition includes a previous Everett Oratory winner, senior T. Elliot Gaiser; two previous finalists, senior Samantha Nasser and junior Andrew Dykstal; and a former runner-up, senior Trevor Anderson.
This is senior Blake Faulker’s first year finaling, as well as junior Jill Buccola’s, who was named as this year’s alternate.
College President Larry Arnn and Michigan businessman Don Tocco will both judge the final competition Thursday, March 8, when five contestants will contend for the $3,000 grand prize.
The third judge has yet to be named by the speech department said.