Bellarmine University’s School of Communication will host the 10th annual Speak Up Kentuckiana speech competition on Tuesday, April 23, in Hilary’s at 6:30 p.m.  Speak Up Kentuckiana is an intercollegiate student speech competition co-sponsored by Bellarmine’s School of Communication and Jefferson Community & Technical College’s Department of Communication.  “This collaborative effort was designed to showcase students’ public speaking talents within a competitive, yet congenial collegiate atmosphere,” said Dr. Lara Needham, dean of the School of Communication. “It also gives communication faculty an opportunity to see if their techniques are in line with other respective faculty, thus providing for the sharing of ideas.” The contest will feature students from Bellarmine University, Jefferson Community & Technical College, Northern Kentucky University and Midway University. Each student will present a six- to eight- minute persuasive speech on a question of policy, according to Needham.   She said a panel of judges from a variety of professional venues within the Louisville area will critique the presentations and select first, second and third place winners. This year’s judges are Jan Boyer, a retired high school speech and drama teacher; Paul Najjar, a sports journalist and producer for WBKI-TV and Louisville Catholic Sports Network; and Sarah Peters, group sales manager for Actor’s Theatre of Louisville.  Speak Up Kentuckiana will also feature Bruce Snyder, an award-winning sportscaster, who will serve as master of ceremonies. Snyder has been a broadcaster and journalist for more than three decades. He has worked for networks including Fox, ABC and NBC, and has covered Super Bowls, World Series, Final Fours, NBA, US Open, NHL and NASCAR.  “We are honored to be hosting the 10th annual competition that features students from various educational institutions across Kentuckiana,” said Winnie Spitza, undergraduate chair of the School of Communication. “This contest provides an open venue to show off students’ oral speaking skills before peers, faculty and family.” Article by Daniel Spitza, intern in Bellarmine's Office of Marketing and Communications.