A fourth-year public health major from Madison, Mississippi, earned a first-place finish for the University of Virginia in an inaugural oratory competition pitting UVA against Georgetown University.
Deanna Wilbourn, who is minoring in government, impressed a panel of judges who graded eight speakers during the UVA vs. Georgetown Oratory Cup last month with her take on the prompt: “Tell the story of an event in American history that embodies the Declaration of Independence.”
Students from both schools tackled the topic in earlier speeches. Four students from each school advanced to the final competition, held in the Supreme Court of Virginia. The judges – a former state attorney general, two state Supreme Court justices and Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s chief speechwriter – equally weighed the content and delivery of the speeches.
Contest organizers say they hope to include more universities in next year’s competition.
