MH
Martin Hofkamp
  • Peace Justice & Conflict Studies
  • Class of 2014
  • Peabody, KS

Martin Hofkamp presents speech at annual C. Henry Smith Peace Oratorical Contest

2014 Mar 6

Martin Hofkamp of Peabody, KS, was one of five Goshen College students to present speeches during the 2014 C. Henry Smith Peace Oratorical Contest on Tuesday, Feb. 18. Martin attends Zion Mennonite Church.

Abby Deaton, a junior communication major from Indianapolis, Ind., took first place with her speech on "The welcome table: discussing Goshen College's hiring policy." Deaton was runner-up in the 2013 contest.

Alma Rosa Carrillo Flores, a freshman nursing major from Mexico City, Mexico, spoke on "Ciudad Juarez female laborers: victims of femicides."

Martin Hofkamp, a senior peace, justice and conflict studies major from Peabody, Kan., was runner-up with his speech on "Juveniles in adult prisons."

Lauren Treiber, a senior peace, justice and conflict studies major from Grand Rapids, Mich., spoke on "A case for faith-feminism: women are disciples too." As a sophomore, Treiber won the 2012 Goshen College contest and won first prize in Mennonite Central Committee's national contest.

Natasha Weisenbeck, a senior public relations major from Clifton, Ill., spoke on "Saving Africa from the media: replacing aid with collaboration."

The participants delivered 8- to 10-minute speeches on topics of their choosing that relate to peace. The speeches were judged on originality, integration of the topic and a peace position, and general standards of delivery.

The C. Henry Smith Peace Oratorical Contest is a U.S/Canada Mennonite Central Committee-sponsored event. Participants compete for cash prizes provided by the trust of C. Henry Smith, a Mennonite historian and professor at Goshen and Bluffton (Ohio) colleges. The purpose of the contest is to give students the opportunity to become involved with the cause for peace and develop rhetorical skills.

Speech contests have been a tradition at Goshen College since the early 1900s. The C. Henry Smith Peace Oratorical Contest provides the opportunity for the campus community to hear about contemporary peace issues.