First-year student's video wins "The Sully Speaks" competition
First-year student Megan McNamara, from Basking Ridge, New Jersey, has won “The Sully Speaks” competition, which recognizes a Richmond student who displays communication excellence.
The competition was devised by alumni Brent Sullivan, ’04, and Andrew Ryan, ’06, and is intended to “promote public speaking for the business world.”
Students submit a 5- to 10-minute video of themselves discussing an assigned topic. This year’s topic was “Persuade Us to Change Our Minds and Lives.” Students may record their speech with a personal recording device or use the Speech Center’s resources. Students who were named finalists were invited to give their talks before a campus audience and panel of judges.
McNamara discussed passion and encouraged her audience to make life decisions based on the things they truly enjoy. She related her advice to her own life experiences, pursuing international volunteer work through a non-profit organization called Cross-Cultural Solutions. McNamara has spent significant time volunteering in Peru, Costa Rica, Guatemala and China. She is bound for Tanzania this summer.
McNamara’s other passion is speech itself. She participated in forensics and debate in high school and was impressed with Richmond’s Speech Center when she toured colleges and universities. In high school, she was selected by teachers to give the commencement address and was nationally ranked in the “Duo Interpretation” category in the Catholic Forensics League National Tournament. She also ranked fourth in New Jersey for improv acting in the National Forensics League.
At Richmond, McNamara is an active participant in the improv comedy troupe, Subject to Change, and is excited about declaring a major in rhetoric and communication studies next year.
"The Sully Speaks" is named for James Robert Sullivan and William Robert Sullivan, each an eloquent orator with their own personal style and delivery. The award comes with a $500 first-place cash prize.