School of Communication Studies announces Hyde Park Forum winners

The Kent State University School of Communication Studies hosted its annual Hyde Park Forum on April 16, 2014, in the Student Center Ballroom on the Kent Campus.

Hyde Park Forum is an opportunity for students enrolled in the Human Communication Class to engage in persuasive public discourse for an audience of peers, family, and faculty. Students come from a variety of majors.

This year's panel of judges included Heather Wells, Miss Ohio 2013 and graduate of Kent State's School of Journalism and Mass Communication, along with local civic, business and educational leaders.

Judges rated student performances to designate first, second, third place and honorable mention. This year's forum featured seven speakers presented to an audience of 900 fellow students and guests. Audience members cast their vote for the People's Choice Award.

"We bring together highly engaged students and community members for an event that celebrates freedom of speech," said Jennifer McCullough, Ph.D., Basic Course Director and assistant professor in the School of Communication Studies.

Students enrolled during the fall and spring semesters of the current academic year compete to provide a slate of speakers that can best present a persuasive speech within a five-minute time frame, McCullough added.

"Our speakers present interesting persuasive speeches on a whole range of topics," McCullough said.

Speakers were presented scholarships ranging from $50 to $300. Winners of this year's Hyde Park Forum, their topic and instructors included:

  • First place, Melanie Munroe, Read for Your Life! (Maria Butauski)
  • Second place, Emily Thomas, America's Fast Food Frenzy: Time to Choose a New Meal? (Aaron Hanlin)
  • Third Place, Mackenzie Wilson, Rape Culture in America (Pam Harr). Wilson also won the People's Choice Award.

Receiving Honorable Mention were:

  • Chelsea Cushman, The Gift of Sponsoring a Child (Melody Reese)
  • Alexander Daniels, Personal Websites: Professional Branding (Bill Kelvin)
  • Madeline Frederick, Active Living as Transportation (Alex Riecke-Gonzales)
  • Ryan Vargo, Can You Hear Me Now? (Alex Riecke-Gonzales)

Joining Wells as fellow judges representing local civic, educational and business organizations included:

  • Marilyn Sessions, Human Resource and Training Officer for Hometown Bank, Kent
  • Suzanne Theisen, Educator and Debate Competitive Speech Coach for Stow-Munroe Falls City School District
  • David Trebing, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, School of Communication Studies, Kent State
  • Stanley Wearden, Ph.D., Dean, College of Communication and Information
  • Lori Wemhoff, Executive Director, Kent Area Chamber of Commerce

"We were fortunate to have a strong panel of judges from the greater Kent community joining Kent State alumna Heather Wells, a graduate of Kent State's School of Journalism and Mass Communication," McCullough said.

POSTED: Thursday, April 24, 2014 04:32 PM
UPDATED: Thursday, December 08, 2022 12:44 PM
WRITTEN BY:
Ernie Galgozy

Introducing new perspectives can help students learn about unique cultures and explore similarities and differences.

Ikram Toumi, an assistant professor in the School of Communication Studies, has brought that possibility to Kent State University with her global education initiatives. Originally from Tunisia, Toumi is tri-lingual, speaking Arabic, English and French, which fuels her interest in multicultural and socially-diverse dimensions of global media and communication.

Kent State alumna Courtney Flickinger, ’20, has been using communication skills to advocate for aging populations since her senior year of college. In 2019, she was a communications intern with Direction Home Akron Canton Area Agency on Aging and Disabilities, and has since began her career there as a Communication Specialist. This semester, she’s sharing her knowledge and experiences with students in two Communication Studies courses.

Students, donors, faculty, staff and friends gathered in Taylor Hall on Friday March 10, 2023, to celebrate student achievements and donor generosity. Communication Studies offers 12 scholarships for returning students. Student leaders from the school’s three student organizations were also recognized.