Jersey City, NJ – Students from 14 area high schools will compete for a $10,000 first-place prize in the first Guarini Center for Governmental Affairs Oratorical Contest at Saint Peter’s College on April 26 beginning at 4 p.m. on the College’s Jersey City campus.
Students will present a speech entitled “Defining the American Dream and Its Impact on Me.” More than $20,000 in total prize money will be awarded.
“The Guarini Center for Governmental Affairs at Saint Peter’s College is proud to sponsor this inaugural oratorical contest,” said Honorable Frank J. Guarini. “In my career as an attorney and a former United States Congressman the ability to express my thoughts through the spoken word is a valuable asset. These public speaking skills are essential in any career path you choose.”
The rules of the contest are strict and follow the National Catholic Forensic League Bylaws. Speeches, which will be judged on originality and interest, must be memorized and composed only by the student delivering it. Visual and audio-visual aids are not permitted and the speech is limited to 10 minutes.
The Guarini Center for Governmental Affairs was established in 1994 to provide a non-partisan forum for the thoughtful discussion of public policy issues and to interest students in pursuing careers in public service. The event is sponsored by Fleet Bank, Horizon Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Merrill Lynch, Panepinto Properties, Provident Bank and PSE&G.
The following students will compete:
Student | Hometown | High School |
Jasmine Mitchell | Plainfield, NJ | The Wardlaw-Hartridge School |
Marisa Fusco | East Rutherford, NJ | Becton Regional |
Carol J. Gomez | West Paterson, NJ | Passaic County Technical Institute |
Lawrence Kwon | Closter, NJ | Northern Valley Regional/ Demarest |
Vivian Hsu | Pine Brook, NJ | Montville Township |
Brian Simons | Newark, NJ | Immaculate Conception |
Darwin Angeles | Paterson, NJ | De Paul Catholic |
Anyah Dembling | Egg Harbor, NJ | Egg Harbor Township |
Katherine Dorrity | West Caldwell, NJ | Mount Saint Dominic Academy |
Eileen Rothschild | Brooklyn, N Y | Bishop Kearney |
Joshua Matz | Suffern, NY | Suffern |
James Charney | Lebanon, NJ | Hunterdon Central Regional |
Daniel Sanford | Fanwood, NJ | Union Catholic |
Alysce Michel | Newark, NJ | University |
Saint Peter’s College is the Jesuit College of New Jersey. Founded in 1872, Saint Peter’s has an enrollment of more than 3,000 students in undergraduate and graduate programs. The main campus is located in Jersey City and a branch campus, specializing in adult education, is located in Englewood Cliffs. Saint Peter’s also offers classes in downtown Jersey City near the waterfront financial district