The Fall 2025 Public Speaking Competition provided an exciting opportunity for Rutgers-New Brunswick undergraduate students to take the stage and deliver their own speeches in front of the judges and their classmates. Hosted by the Communication Department at the Rutgers School of Communication and Information, this year’s competition was centered around the empowering theme, “Turning Ideas into Action.”

Once a year, this signature event invites Rutgers students who are either taking the SC&I course Public Relations 380 currently, or have successfully completed 380 in the recent past, to put the skills and knowledge they've gained in the classroom into practice and showcase their growth as public speakers. Students are required to write and deliver either an informative or persuasive speech.

The contest is organized by Assistant Teaching Professor of Communication and SC&I alumna Erin Christie Ph.D.’14, the faculty advisor for the Rutgers Public Speaking Organization and Public Speaking Course Coordinator and Associate Teaching Professor of Communication Nikolaos Linardopoulos.

Describing how she decided on this year's theme, Christie said, "I chose the theme 'Turning Ideas into Action' since I wanted something to combine the ideas of thought and action for our students. Ultimately, I settled on this theme since I think it best encapsulated what students currently do (think...), with what we hope they then do (act)."

Professor and Chair of the Communication Department Marya Doerfel said, "With some 85 competitors who delivered 7-minute-long speeches, the competition was tough and showed off the amazing gifts our Rutgers students have. Nearly all of the contestants are currently or were enrolled in the department’s public speaking class. Their speeches were compelling and showed off how communication theory elevates speeches in terms of their persuasiveness and execution. The department is incredibly grateful to Drs. Erin Christie and Nick Linardopoulos, who manage this competition with aplomb."

The preliminary rounds were held virtually. 52 students submitted recordings of their presentations that were then viewed by two current 380 instructors. Then, the final round was held in person on November 13, 2025, in the main SC&I building. Five students advanced to the final round.

The final round judges were Doerfel, Teaching Professor and Director of the MCM Master's Program Director Richard Dool, and the first-place finalist from last spring's Public Speaking Contest, Tirzah Johns. 

"The most impressive thing about our student speakers is not their polish, but the courage to stand up, speak up, and let their ideas matter," Dool said. "Public speaking isn’t just a skill; it’s a rehearsal for leadership. These students showed that when you find your voice, you also find your power. They were all very impressive and a credit to our Public Speaking Program."

"It was such a fantastic and inspiring event to see so many students enter our competition this year!" Christie said.

Commenting on the many ways participating in the contest benefited him, third-place winner Vinesh Uniyal said, "Participating in the 380 public speaking competition helped me refine my communication skills and taught me how to compress larger ideas into simpler, clearer, and more understandable ones that engage the audience. Moreover, it helped me gauge the manner in which I feel most comfortable speaking, namely in an enthusiastic and humorous way. All in all, I'm really grateful for the opportunity, and I would encourage other students to participate as well!"

First-place winner Clarina Xavier, a freshman majoring in Computer Science, spoke to SC&I about her experiences in 380, the competition, and her advice for succeeding as a public speaker.

SC&I: What sparked your interest in SC&I 380: Public Speaking? Did you want to gain confidence, or were you just ready to face your fear of the mic?
CX: I did a bit of public speaking in high school through the Gavels Club (Toastmasters International) and Model United Nations, so I was already comfortable speaking in front of people. But I took this class because I wanted to get better at preparing and structuring my speeches. I feel like there’s a big difference between someone who has spoken publicly and someone who’s really learned the skill. This class helped me refine what I already knew and grow even more—because with public speaking, you’re never really “done.” There’s always something new to improve.

Looking back, how did the class change you—academically, personally, or maybe even socially? Any surprises along the way?
CX: Looking back, this class with Professor Azriela Jaffe honestly became one of the best decisions I’ve made. Academically, I learned how to structure and deliver a speech in a way that truly connects with an audience, and her mix of constructive criticism and genuine encouragement helped me grow a lot. She gave each of us individual attention—whether it was reviewing our outlines or guiding us through delivery—and that made a huge difference. What surprised me most, though, was the atmosphere she created. Our class felt warm, supportive, and almost like a small family where everyone shared their stories and learned from each other. Because of that, coming to class on Mondays never felt like a chore; I actually looked forward to it. 

Public speaking can be nerve-wracking! Why do you think it’s such a powerful skill to have in your back pocket?
CX: Public speaking can be nerve-wracking, but I think it’s one of the most powerful skills you can have because no matter what field you end up in—business, tech, medicine, or even something completely unexpected—you’re always going to have to talk to someone. Either you’re asking for help, explaining something, pitching an idea, or trying to convince people you know what you’re doing! Being able to communicate clearly makes life so much easier. It helps people understand you, trust you, and take you seriously. And honestly, as someone who loves connecting with people and always has way too many ideas running through her head, the ability to speak confidently feels like a superpower I can carry into any room.

Future students are curious to know—what was your secret for winning the public speaking competition? Any do’s, don’ts, or last-minute pep talks to share?
CX: Honestly, my “secret” wasn’t really a secret—it was practice and preparation. I’ve always believed that the more you prep, the more confident you feel. Using the outlines Professor Jaffe gave us, I took my speeches up at least five levels, and rehearsing a few days before the competition made all the difference. You can’t improve the night before; you must give yourself time to grow into the speech. My personal tip—and it might sound funny—is to find an empty lecture hall or classroom and practice standing in that big, echoey space. Even if the room is empty, get used to what it feels like to speak in a large room. By the time you step on stage, it won’t feel nearly as intimidating.

The Five 2025 Finalists are:

First Place:
Clarina Xavier
Speech title: "Sip, Swipe, Signal"
Instructor: Professor Jaffe
Prize: $800

Second Place:
Michael Volpert
Speech title: "Jury Duty: How and Why a Juror Gets Chosen"
Instructor: Professor Jaffe
Prize: $500

Third Place:
Vinesh Uniyal
Speech title: "Why You Should Read Fiction"
Instructor: Professor Jaffe
Prize: $300

Fourth Place:
Diya Sivasubramani
Speech title: "The Nature of Good versus Evil"
Instructor: Professor Goldberg
Prize: $250

Fifth Place:
Samantha Pontoriero
Speech title: "Consumerism: Why is it Dangerous?"
Instructor:  Professor Goldberg
Prize: $150

Learn more about the Communication major and the Master of Communication and Media at the Rutgers School of Communication and Information on the website. 

Photo: Courtesy of Nikolaos Linardopoulos