Ithaca College

Submitted on behalf of Laurie Arliss, professor and chair, Department of Speech Communication.

Three talented Ithaca College students were finalists in the 2009 Perialas Prize for Oratory. The event, sponsored by the Department of Speech Communication, awards a $500 prize to the top speaker.

This year's topic was "Health Care: Right or Privilege?" The winner was Lindsey Stafford (center in photo), a senior IMC major, who argued cogently that access to health care is every citizen's right. Also impressing the listeners were runners-up Joyti Jiandani (on left in photo), a sophomore speech-language pathology major, and Ryan Bigler, senior speech communication major.

As is the tradition, the event was judged by members of Ithaca's chapter of Lambda Pi Eta, the National Communication honor society for undergraduates. This year's judging panel consisted of Bethany Arliss, Katherine Fields, Julie Levitt, and Kaleigh Mrowka.

Danette Johnson, professor of speech communication, hosted the event and commended all the finalists, noting that these were perhaps the best three final presentations in the history of the event. Professor Johnson thanked professors Ann Byrne and Howard Erlich for their help with the event.