Post Secondary Education: How Will It Benefit Today’s World?
The second annual Student Speaker Challenge kicked off on Wednesday, Jan. 13 with a total of eight students competing in this year’s event. Students addressed the question: What is the value of post-secondary education in today’s world? Much of the debate has focused on the need for post-secondary education to further promote critical thinking regarding community building and sustainable (world) development, i.e. be the change you want others to adopt.
The Student Speaker Challenge is a collaboration of SACPA, LPIRG and the U of L Students Union, with financial and promotional support from the University of Lethbridge. Four initial sessions with two speakers each have successfully been held. The first semifinal session on Tuesday Feb 23 matched James Falconer and Keith McLaughlin, with the latter coming out ahead. The following week, Keith Gardner and Kate Nesbitt squared off, with Kate moving on. Selin Bilgin, Cashe Erskine, Vanessa Lodermeier and Saikat Basu were the other contestants.
Speaker: Kate Nesbitt is a fifth year student in the Environmental Science program. She has been a member of the Pronghorns Women’s Hockey team for the past four years and also involved in several student organizations, including Campus Roots and LPIRG. Kate is the founder of GreenHorns, a campus environmental awareness and mentoring group. She loves the University of Lethbridge and greatly values the opportunities it has provided for her.
Speaker: Keith McLaughlin is a fifth-year political science student at the University of Lethbridge. For the last three years at the U of L, Keith has worked part time at The Meliorist. As a two-time News Editor for the campus publication (2006-07, 2009-10), he have covered campus, local and provincial news for the student and community readership. Keith has also dabbled in topical journalism as The Meliorist’s Features Editor in 2008-2009.
Moderators: Jenn Prosser and Alex Masse
A panel of judges and the audience will determine who wins the final, with a first prize of $500. Second place will receive $300 and $100 prizes will be awarded to the two students not advancing past semifinals. In addition, all eight competitors will receive a book, either “Climate Cover-Up” by James Hoggan and Richard Littlemore or “Who Owns the Arctic” by Michael Byers.
Final: Tuesday, Mar. 9 at 7 p.m. Andy’s Place (AH100) Admission free, refreshments provided. The two Finalists will present at SACPA’s regular session, Thursday, March 11, noon-1:30 at Country Kitchen Catering (Bsmt of the Keg restaurant)