The Communication Department held its first-ever Speech Showcase, highlighting the work of students in the general education-level public speaking classes. Students from all classes were invited to submit their best work, which was judged. The top five speeches were given April 16, during the culminating event of COMMfest, the first celebration of communication majors.

The top five speeches were “Gun Safety,” by Olivia Shaw, “The Polluted Air We Breathe,” by Joshua Willden,”Disconnected in Order to Reconnect,” by Chad Colby, “The Poison Destroying Families and Lives,” by Caleb Heder and “The Epidemic of Cosmetic Surgery” by Jillian Quilter.

Three students received honorable mentions: Aubrey Snelson for “Stress Management,” Matthew Wilkinson for “Stop Physical and Emotional Abuse” and Delaney Woodfield for “Birth Control.”

Eleven students were honored as semi-finalists: Patricia Danklef, Kenneth Gordon, Mosiah Gonzalez, Christopher Montoya, Jericho Pineda, Mike Rose, Tyson Jex, Jason Squire, Rhett Steadman, Richard Mickelsen and Brennan West.

In addition, nine other students gave their speeches before the Ogden City Council and other Ogden venues as part of Weber Speaks, a branch of the showcase that reached out to the community. They were Jocelyn Adams, Ana Caceras-Moldonado, Cara Darr, Brandon Goodrich, Dawn Goss, Brandon Hyer, Brady Libby, Alexa Peterson and Layley Waldbillig.