C. Henry Smith Peace Oratorical Contest

The annual C. Henry Smith Peace Oratorical Contest gives Goshen College students an opportunity to explore peace from a faith perspective, get involved in the cause of peace, test ideas, and cultivate rhetorical skills.

Each participant steps to the lectern to deliver an 8- to 10-minute speech on their chosen topic relating to the Christian peace position, in a universal or specific context, including war and violence, political policies, agencies of justice and peace, peacemaking strategies or current events. The addresses are judged on originality, the integration of topic and a peace position and general standards of delivery.

Participants compete for cash prizes and the top winner may enter the U.S./Canada Mennonite Central Committee-sponsored C. Henry Smith Peace Oratorical Contest. The trust of C. Henry Smith, a 20th-century Mennonite historian and professor at Goshen College and Bluffton (Ohio) College, funds the contest, which gives students an opportunity to become involved with the peace cause while cultivating rhetorical skills. Speech contests have been part of Goshen College’s history since the early 1900s; the C. Henry Smith contest allows the campus and the wider Goshen communities to hear about faith-related, socially relevant, contemporary issues.

Contest Rules

All participants must complete an application form, deliver an 8-10 minute extemporaneous speech that relates to the topic of peace, limiting the length to 1500 words, with no more than 10 percent quoted material. All participants will first present their speeches to a committee made up of Communication faculty/staff members, and at least one student member. This committee will select four to five finalists for the contest.

Contest Topic

The theme of the Christian peace position may be explored in a universal or a particular context, and may pertain to issues of war and violence, political policies, agencies of justice and peace, strategies of peacemaking, or current events. Topics might include: poverty, disarmament, hunger, domestic violence, pollution, interventionism, immigration, international conflicts, or any number of contemporary issues or challenges.

Schedule*

  • December– Applications due to Anna Groff, assistant professor of communication
  • January  – First round of auditions begin for the C. Henry Smith Peace Oratorical Contest
  • (Date TBA) – Continuation of the first round of try-outs as needed
  • February – Annual C. Henry Smith Peace Oratorical Contest in the Umble Center

*2025 schedule dates coming soon.

Prizes

  • First Place: $500
  • Second Place: $350
  • Third Place: $200

Judges

Three to five persons, selected from students, faculty, and community leaders will judge the contest on originality, integration of topic and a peace position, and general standards of delivery.

The top winner may enter the Mennonite Central Committee C. Henry Smith Peace Oratorical Contest.