Betty Castor, U.S. Senate candidate and former President of the University of South Florida, will be the keynote speaker at the final round for the 3rd Annual Pepper Oratory Competition to be held Friday, February 13 at the Claude Pepper Center.
The competition begins at 11 a.m. Castor will deliver the keynote speech in the Broad Auditorium at 12:30 p.m. shortly before the awards ceremony. Judges for the competition include Lucy Morgan, St. Petersburg Times, Michael Jackson, President of the Florida Pharmacy Association, Dr. Donna Nudd, Professor of Communication and an expert in advocacy through performance, and Mark Zeigler, Coordinator of FSU Public Speaking Courses. A reception will follow the presentation.
The competition is co-sponsored by the Claude Pepper Foundation and the FSU Department of Communications. It was established to encourage students to cultivate oratory, debate and elocution skills and help prepare them as future leaders. Competitors chose sides debating complicated issues. This year the competitors will debate over the issue of whether the federal government should substantially increase assistance to citizens in need of health care and prescription medications.
Students from Florida State University, Nova, University of West Florida, Florida College, Stetson University, Central Florida Community College, and Tallahassee Community College will compete for six cash prizes ranging from $1,000 down to $100.00.
