This fall, the Department of Communication Studies launched LOMA Talks, a biannual speech competition available to students in COM 1000: Principles of Human Communication.
COM 1000 is a general education course, which means participants come from a variety of majors. As part of the course requirements, students must develop and present an informative speech in class. LOMA Talks gives students an incentive to work hard as one student from each section of the course is chosen to participate in the competition. This fall, there were 19 sections of COM 1000, and 18 professors chose to nominate a student.
“The impetus was looking for an opportunity to showcase the hard work students are doing in Com 1000,” said Johnny Capra, Ph.D., assistant professor of communication, who came up with the idea for LOMA Talks.
After the students are nominated by their professors, they are given the opportunity to further refine their speeches. They are interviewed by faculty, and the top six then proceed to the live competition where they deliver their final speeches to an audience of their peers in Solomon Theatre. Competitors are scored by a panel of judges using a pre-established rubric, and top scorers are awarded cash prizes for first, second, and third place. Speeches delivered by these top finishers are also recognized on the Department of Communication Studies website.
“We had a great turnout for the first event,” Capra said. “Students came to support one another and cheer each other on. The top six students gave unaided speeches with no notecards, and there were three victors.”
“Participating in LOMA Talks is personally beneficial for the student speakers and for classmates and viewers who see the traits and positive qualities we teach embodied in the speakers.”
Earning first place was Grace Bovey, a finance business administration major, for her speech “Vision House.” Bovey took home the top prize of $1,000. In second place was Charlie Andersen, a communication studies major, who shared “Three Recipes That Will Help You Stay Healthy in the Fall.” Andersen was awarded $250. Finally, in third place with her speech “The Science of Play for Adults” was Isabella Brandberg, a liberal studies teacher education major. Brandberg took home $100.
“It’s one thing to be passionate, educated, or knowledgeable about a topic,” said Capra, “but it’s another to put it in a format that is entertaining or appealing or that others want to listen to. It’s something that can be helpful in any field students go into. Participating in LOMA Talks is personally beneficial for the student speakers and for classmates and viewers who see the traits and positive qualities we teach embodied in the speakers.”
Capra said the teamwork of the entire Department of Communication Studies helped make the event a success. He especially appreciated the help of Lily Nguyen, operations coordinator for the Departments of Communication Studies and Art & Design; Spencer Gorka, a student photographer who documented the night; and Media Services.
The next LOMA Talks competition will take place on April 23, 2026, at 6 p.m. in Solomon Theatre. Alumni, parents, and community members are invited to attend and support the students participating.
