May 13, 2015

Madison Ferguson wins Shocker Speakout

Four students competed recently in the finals of the 33rd Shocker Speakout competition, which showcases outstanding persuasive policy speakers at the end of the semester. The students were picked from more than 550 students in 22 sections of Comm 111.

Each Comm 111 section nominates a policy speaker to compete in the contest. All contestants receive the maximum 100 points possible for their policy speeches and are required to participate in a preliminary round of the Shocker Speakout. From the preliminary rounds, finalists are selected and are judged by area communication professionals.

Madison Ferguson, this semester's winner, received $100 from McGraw-Hill, publisher of the Comm 111 textbook. Her name will also be engraved on a plaque that hangs in the commons area of Elliott Hall. Other finalists were Paul Collins, Kyle Sherwood and Grace Coopersmith.

This year's judges included Adrian Fox, communication and marketing specialist at the Kansas Humane Society; Cindy Berner, director of libraries for the city of Wichita; Cheryl Miller, assistant dean for Fairmount College; and Joe Kleinsasser, director of news and media relations at WSU.