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Lexi Garrett wins spring 2024 Auburn Speaks competition

Auburn University's School of Communication and Journalism hosted the final round of the "Auburn Speaks" public speaking competition on April 10 at the Gogue Performing Arts Center. 

Agriculture junior Lexi Garrett was announced as the winner of the competition and recipient of the Philip Lutzenkirchen Excellence in Public Speaking Award after giving her exceptional speech, titled "The History of Lake Martin."

"My inspiration behind the speech topic was truly based on being born and raised a local of the Lake Martin area," said Garrett. "I have always wanted to learn more about its history, and how it came to be, and this informative speech was the perfect opportunity for me to do so."

The runner-up was Eva Abraham, a freshman majoring in Business, who delivered her speech, "Evolution of the Sitcom." Claire Temple, a sophomore majoring in Sociology, placed third overall with her speech, "The Science Behind Falling in Love." The other finalists include freshman Blaire Gray, freshman Sophia Scarpaci and sophomore Savanna DePriest.

Each semester, Auburn Speaks is held to pay tribute to the memory of Philip Lutzenkirchen, a distinguished graduate in Communication and former standout athlete for Auburn University football who passed away in a car accident in 2014. With a nomination of one student from each COMM 1000 class, this event also recognizes and showcases Auburn's most talented public speaking students. After the semi-finals, a panel of judges chooses six finalists to compete for this award on stage in front of a large audience. 

The Philip Lutzenkirchen Excellence in Public Speaking Award is presented by Lutzie43, a foundation established in 2014 to honor the memory of Lutzenkirchen. Their mission is to spread awareness to students and employees about the importance of responsible decision-making, particularly regarding driving safety.

For more information on Auburn Speaks and Philip Lutzenkirchen, visit the Auburn University College of Liberal Arts website or contact Jennifer Johnson.

Tags: Communication and Journalism Students