The annual C. Henry Smith Peace Oratorical Contest provides students with the opportunity to compose and deliver a speech that applies Christian principles of peacemaking to contemporary social issues. The first, second, and third place winners receive a cash prize and the first place winner of the contest then competes in an intercollegiate competition with the winners from other Mennonite-related colleges and universities.
The competition is administered by the Mennonite Central Committee and was established in honor of C. Henry Smith, who was on the Bluffton faculty from 1914-46. Smith is well-known for his numerous books on Mennonite history and his particular attention to the peace commitments of the Mennonite tradition.
Speeches from the 2008 C. Henry Smith Peace Oratorical Contest:
(in coordination with the Peace and Conflict Studies program)
Anna Yoder, 1st place: "Extending the Table: The Blessing of the Stranger in Our Midst"
Laura Frey, 2nd place: "Breaking Down the 'Figurative Border': A Call for Renews Christian Response to Militarization of the US/Mexico Border and Racial Profiling Against Latinos"
Sarah Ricks, 3rd place: "Mountain High: A Critique Presentation of Go Tell It On The Mountain"
Crystal Graber, "Healing the Earth, Healing Ourselves; How Being Environmental Stewards is the Healthy Human Decision"
Nikita Simek, "Keeping the Peace: Why America Has to Change"
