The Student Speaker Competition

Speech submission deadline extended to Tuesday, April 17

Each year a graduating student is selected to represent the class during the commencement ceremony by delivering “Remarks on Behalf of the Graduates.” This year’s speech will be delivered on Tuesday, May 15, 2012. These remarks are more commonly referred to as the student speaker or the student speech and at Mailman a competition is held to determine each year’s student speaker.

The competition is comprised of a three step selection process. In the first step, speeches submitted in text format will be reviewed by a committee of students and staff. This initial review is anonymous so any student identification information found on the uploaded document will be removed (name, email, etc.). In its place will be a four letter code to maintain anonymity. Selected students (approximately five) will then proceed to the second step of the process which is presenting the transcript of his/her speech to another selection committee (just as he/she would address the audience at the ceremony). Finally, step three occurs when the selection committee recommends the top two finalists to the Dean of Students who determines the speaker.

In summary, graduating students interested in speaking must:

Submit a typed manuscript, no longer than five spoken minutes in length (750) words using the online upload form.
Be prepared to present your speech to a selection committee (just as you would address the audience at the ceremony).

In addition, students must:

Be a graduating student (MPH, MS, DrPH, PhD) who was actively registered during the 2011-12 academic year either at Mailman or at a partner CU School as part of a dual degree program.
Be an October 2011, February 2012 or May 2012 graduate. May 2012 graduates must be cleared for graduation (meaning no outstanding requirements/incomplete grades, etc.) by the end of the semester (April 30th).

Graduating students interested in becoming the 2012 student speaker should submit a transcript or speech that she/he intends to deliver using the online upload form. If you have any questions about the student speaker competition, please email Tabaitha Rodriguez in the Office of Student Affairs at tr2217@columbia.edu.

Speech Writing Tips and Helpful Hints

Each year we hold a student speaker competition and each year we hear feedback from committee members about the process. The information below is mentioned only to help guide you through the process.

Theme and Content

Strong speeches have strong themes. Try to keep a consistent theme throughout your speech and keep your audience’s interest in the topic by providing real life examples and stories. Think about what you would want to hear as a member of the audience. You may want to share your aspirations and convictions, passions or goals.

Remember, the audience is comprised of students, faculty, families, friends, deans and other distinguished alumni and guests. The speech should have elements to which everyone can relate. Try not to focus too much on a department or project and more on overarching themes and missions. Think about what inspires you and try to evoke that feeling from the audience.

Structure

There is not a specific template or format to which speeches must adhere, but there are some general structures that most commencement speeches have.

Speeches often begin with a brief welcome or greeting and mention of specific guests, such as Dean Fried, the main speaker and a general welcome to other audience members.
Speeches often contain a personal story or topic to help the speaker relate to the audience and the audience relate to the speaker.
As this is the Mailman School of Public Health’s commencement ceremony, the speech should be relevant to the field of Public Health and cover topics or issues in the field. If the topics covered are complicated issues, they should be explained to the general audience in a story or brief review.
The speech will often have a charge to the class. This charge is a challenge or motivating factor, presented to the class during the speech, sometimes given as a closing. Often the charge is a goal to make changes, yet it can also be to stay the course and persevere.