November 21, 2016

SVSU student continues winning ways in public speaking contest

A Saginaw Valley State University student with a passion for public speaking recently continued an impressive streak in earning honors for his ability.

Erik Breidinger was named winner of SVSU’s 27th Annual Sims Public Speaking Competition in November. The victory earned him $400. The title of his presentation was “Feeling Lucky? The Descent into Google-ocracy.”

The communication and geography double major also won the contest in 2015. In the competition’s history, the Auburn native is the sixth student to win twice and the third person to do so in consecutive years.

Breidinger has excelled in competitions outside of campus too.

In October 2016, he earned top honors for presenting his community-minded research on the Kawkawlin River. The first-place win came in the undergraduate paper presentation category at the American Association of Geographers East Lakes/West Lakes conference hosted by Northern Michigan University.

In February 2016, he won first place in the informative category of the Michigan Intercollegiate Speech League Novice States Tournament at Hillsdale College.

In total, six students earned prizes during the 2016 Sims Public Speaking Competition:

•    Melinda Dinninger, a communication major from Saginaw, who earned $250 for a second-place finish
•    Shafayat Alam, a management major from Bangladesh, who earned $150 for a third-place finish
•    Cody Bromberg, a communication major from Essexville, who earned $100 for a fourth-place finish
•    Melanie Frasca, a communication/theatre education major from Waterford, who earned $75 as a finalist
•    Cheyena Pettaway, a communication major from Saginaw, who earned $75 as a finalist

The competition is endowed by Larry and Linda Sims, long-time supporters of SVSU. Linda currently serves as senior executive assistant to the president/executive director for communications and external affairs at SVSU.