FALL 2025
Our showcase went online again this semester. Thank you to all the students and faculty who worked through the pandemic circumstances by following the guidelines for our in-person campus classes and online. Thank you to our incredible donors, Donald Sloan, J. LaVar Bateman, and Kevin Jones, who believe in our students and make this showcase possible with a cash scholarship for each participant. We invite you to listen to their incredible stories here:
This semester’s showcase highlights the top finalist speakers chosen by our faculty judges from among all the public speaking sections. You can watch the entire playlist of our nine finalist speakersor choose individual speeches below:
Congratulations to both the speech finalists and semifinalist!
Introducing our finalists:
Gavin Kupono Aina
Gavin Kupono Aina is a Sophomore from Sandy, Utah, Majoring in Nursing: “Permission to Fail”
Cooper Andersen
Cooper Andersen is Sophomore from Hurricane, Utah, Majoring in Business: "The AI Turninig Point"
Clayton Andrew Walburger
Clayton Andrew Walburger is a Sophomore from San Juan Capistrano, California, Majoring in Business: “Overcome This Fear”
Maddie Thompson
Maddie Thompson is a Junior from Rockwall, Texas, Majoring in Biology: “Read With Caution: Why Books Need Ratings”
Kaylee Burrill
Kaylee Burrill is a Senior from Danville, California, Majoring in Communications: "The Universal Language of Happiness"
Heather McConnell
Heather McConnell is a Senior from Springville, Utah, Majoring in Political Science: "Divorce and How It Hurts Us"
Elyse Paulsen
Elyse Paulsen is a Senior from Potomac, Maryland, Majoring in Nursing: “The One-Minute Cure You’re Not Using”
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR SEMIFINALISTS:
Blake Allen
Julianani Fonoimoana
Ella Petersen
Knox Nielsen
Camden Stewart
Eliza Lambert
Bradley Larsen
Ashley Phillips
Nathan Fairholm
Eliza Smith