Friday, November 21st 2008                            [ versión español ]

Students from the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez (UPRM) once again demonstrated their mastery of the art of public speaking, at the Second Collaborative University Speech Contest, which topic this year was on The Role of Collaboration in the Development of the Emotional Intelligence of our Country.

The event, organized by Cooperativa de Seguros Múltiples (Cooperative of Multiple Insurances), took place at the Universidad Católica (Catholic University) at the end of October.  The participants, all undergraduate students at UPRM, were asked to compose an essay regarding this year’s topic, which they would later have to explain and give a speech about the same for seven minutes, in front of selected judges.

The first three prizes of this year’s contest were awarded to: Miralys Pérez, of the Department of Hispanic studies, first place; Ricardo R. Fuentes, of the Economy Department, second place; and Frances Figueroa, of the Psychology Program of the Social Sciences Department, who took third place.  Josué Flores, of the History Department; Jovied Cáliz, of the Nursing Department; and Alberto Rodríguez, Pre-Med also had an outstanding participation in the contest.

This speech contest was created in 1989 at the elementary and high school levels, in public as well as privates schools, with the idea of promoting language development for the youth.  Last year, it was extended to the university level, with UPRM as contest headquarters.

Precisely for his achievement in the first contest, Rafael Súarez Otero, representative of Cooperativas de Seguros Múltiples, insisted that UPRM students participated in these kinds of events which not only promote unity and sharing but also help to develop the skills of diction, confidence, and leadership among others.

The initiation ceremony was attended by (from left to right), the Dean of Arts and Sciences, Doctor Moisés Orengo, Doctor Guillermo Bernal, Doctor Bernadette Delgado, President of the Chapter, Zaadé Torres, and the Chancellor, Doctor Jorge Iván Vélez Arocho, Dean of Administration, José A. Frontera, and Vice-president, Frances Figueroa.

UPRM students who are part of the first Chapter of the National Honor Society of Puerto Rico, in this image you can see the official shirt of its members.

Photos by Alessandra Otero Ramos / UPRM Press