Five undergraduate students from Southern Illinois University Carbondale will speak at the SIU Student Speakers Forum on April 2 in Morris Library’s John C. Guyon Auditorium. The event, which is free and open to the public, will run from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m.
This semester’s forum centers on the theme “Redefining Success: The Landscape of Happiness.” Organizers say the forum offers a platform for students from different majors and backgrounds to present persuasive speeches that connect their academic and personal interests with this topic.
Casey Weaver, a doctoral student in Communication Studies and coordinator of the Speakers Forum, said, “In a world obsessed with outward metrics of success, we often find ourselves moving further away from genuine fulfillment. This semester, I challenged our finalists to look inward and redefine what it truly means to ‘make it’ beyond just titles or financial milestones. These speakers are here to share their personal journeys and persuade us all that true happiness is found in authentic, and often simple, landscapes.”
The selected student speakers are Myra Anderson (biochemistry), Keara Hawkins (biochemistry), Sabrina Jordan (English), Lillian Messina (microbiology), and Savana White (elementary education). Each was chosen through auditions and will receive a $350 scholarship from the Society for Civil Discourse after delivering their speeches.
The forum has been held each semester since spring 2002. It is sponsored by the School of Communication Studies along with the Society for Civil Discourse. The society was established in 1999 by SIU Carbondale alumna Barbara Jane Schwartz as an endowment supporting civil discourse among students about campus life and societal issues.
A catered reception will follow outside the auditorium. More information about the event can be obtained by contacting Casey Weaver at casey.k.weaver@siu.edu.
