Speak Up. Speak Out. Speech Competition.

What is SUSO?

SUSO stands for Speak Up. Speak Out. It is a speech competition for Ivy Tech Kokomo Region students. The goal of SUSO is to give students the very real opportunity to effect change in the community by using the principles of effective public speaking discussed in sections of COMM 101 to advocate on behalf of a local nonprofit. When a student is selected as the winner of the SUSO event, all money raised for the event will be donated to the organization for which they advocated

Who can SUSO?

Any student who has taken COMM 101 at a Kokomo region campus is eligible.

Kokomo
Logansport
Peru
Wabash
Rochester
Tipton

When and where is SUSO?

The semifinal competition will be held Tuesday, April 2, in Kokomo. The SUSO finals will be held on Tuesday, April 16, at the Kokomo Event & Conference Center.

Why SUSO?

To put your public speaking principles into action!
To have fun!
To help those in need!
To make a difference in your community!

How do I register for SUSO?

For more information, contact one of the two full-time communication faculty members in the region:

David Gray, assistant professor
574-753-5101, ext. 2190
dgray54@ivytech.edu

Josh Rockey, associate professor and program chair
800-459-0561, ext. 437
jrockey2@ivytech.edu

SUSO SCHEDULE AND SPEECH EXPECTATIONS

1. Semifinal Competition

Participants will compete in Kokomo on Tuesday, April 2, for the chance to be one of five (5) selected to speak in the SUSO finals. At the semifinal competition, each participant will deliver a 5 minute speech about a local nonprofit organization of their choosing. Finalists will be selected by a panel of judges based on the quality of the speech, not on the need of the organization.

Site	Day	Time	Room Number	Number of Finalists
Kokomo Main Campus	Tuesday, April 2	7 p.m.	Alumni Hall	5

Semifinal Speech Expectations

Maximum 5 minute speech
Persuasive speech
On the topic of a local nonprofit

2. Final Competition

The five (5) finalists selected from the semifinal round will speak in the SUSO Finals. At the SUSO Finals, each participant will deliver a 7-9 minute speech about a local nonprofit organization of their choosing. The SUSO champion will be selected by a panel of judges based on the quality of the speech, not on the need of the organization. All money raised in fundraising efforts from the beginning of the competition will be donated to nonprofit organization advocated for by the winning speaker. A People's Choice Award winner also will be selected the night of the SUSO finals by the audience. All money raised by audience votes will be donated to the nonprofit organization advocated for by the People's Choice award winner.

Site	Day	Time	Room Number
Kokomo Event & Conference Center	Tuesday, April 16	7 p.m.	Theatre Room

SUSO Finals Speech Expectations

7-9 minute speech
Persuasive speech
On the topic of a local nonprofit
Minimum 1 visual aid