Everett oratorical competition results: 'Golden Lips' returns
Marieke van der Vaart
Issue date: 3/5/09 Section: Your News
Although senior Michael David won last Thursday's Edward Everett Prize in Oratory competition for the second year in a row, it was freshman Elliot Gaiser who inherited the title of "Golden Lips" from Dan Burfiend '08, who won the competition three times in four years.
"That freshman has a voice," Hillsdale College President Arnn said of Gaiser after the competition.
Arnn, Judge Michael Smith of the Hillsdale Circuit Court and Andrew Nickle awarded second and third place to senior Gennady Stolyarov and Gaiser, respectively.
Gaiser, the only underclassman in the final round of speaking, found the competition daunting if not rewarding.
"For me it was a little frightening," Gaiser said. "I had to more or less stumble my way through it."
"There was some superb prose," Arnn said after the competition. "It's fun to watch - they get better every year."
Assistant Professor of Speech Kirstin Kiledal, who coordinates the competition, agreed.
"It was a very strong year," Kiledal said. "Arguments are getting much better; a little more complex and combin[ing] formality of thought with informality of humor."
David received $3,000; Stolyarov, $2,000; Gaiser, $1,000; and senior Allen Shoff, junior Brandon Carmack and alternate senior Evvy Gnabasik were each given $100 and a plaque. All the prize money for the event comes from an endowment the college received in Feb. 2008.
The five finalists were chosen from more than 20 contestants to present a 10-minute speech on "Economic Crisis and the Constitution" to the event's three judges and an audience in Phillips Auditorium. The judges rated each speaker on time management, presentation, clarity, logical flow, adaptation to audience, appearance and persuasiveness.
As one of three political economy majors competing, David said the topic was perfect for him, but not enough to guarantee him a win.
"It's not necessarily always about the content," he said. "It's about the ability of a speaker who is able to get his message across to the most people."
"That freshman has a voice," Hillsdale College President Arnn said of Gaiser after the competition.
Arnn, Judge Michael Smith of the Hillsdale Circuit Court and Andrew Nickle awarded second and third place to senior Gennady Stolyarov and Gaiser, respectively.
Gaiser, the only underclassman in the final round of speaking, found the competition daunting if not rewarding.
"For me it was a little frightening," Gaiser said. "I had to more or less stumble my way through it."
"There was some superb prose," Arnn said after the competition. "It's fun to watch - they get better every year."
Assistant Professor of Speech Kirstin Kiledal, who coordinates the competition, agreed.
"It was a very strong year," Kiledal said. "Arguments are getting much better; a little more complex and combin[ing] formality of thought with informality of humor."
David received $3,000; Stolyarov, $2,000; Gaiser, $1,000; and senior Allen Shoff, junior Brandon Carmack and alternate senior Evvy Gnabasik were each given $100 and a plaque. All the prize money for the event comes from an endowment the college received in Feb. 2008.
The five finalists were chosen from more than 20 contestants to present a 10-minute speech on "Economic Crisis and the Constitution" to the event's three judges and an audience in Phillips Auditorium. The judges rated each speaker on time management, presentation, clarity, logical flow, adaptation to audience, appearance and persuasiveness.
As one of three political economy majors competing, David said the topic was perfect for him, but not enough to guarantee him a win.
"It's not necessarily always about the content," he said. "It's about the ability of a speaker who is able to get his message across to the most people."
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