Twenty-four students tested their public speaking skills Saturday when they competed in the 121st John Henry Frizzell All-University Speaking Contest in Willard Building.

John Henry Frizzell, the founder of the Penn State speech communication department, created the program, which is the nation's oldest running speech contest, said Dorothy Nam, assistant director of the University's Forensics Council, the sponsoring group.

"It gives students the opportunity to speak publicly and be recognized for their ability," Nam said.

The council's vice president, Kymberly Morris, said 35 students entered, but only 24 competed because of the snow.

"This is the first year we've actually had more Commonwealth campus students compete than University Park students," she said.

Morris said the competitors can give informative or persuasive speeches of seven to nine minutes, and any student can enter.

Council secretary Bonnie Schaedel said contestants were judged on organization, content, audience, analysis, adaptation, language and communication.

The 24 contestants competed in two rounds of judging with only eight advancing to the final round.

"Usually six students make it to the finals," Nam said, "but this year there were ties, so we had eight."

Four University Park students and four Commonwealth campus students made it to the finals.

"It wasn't planned that way," she said, "it just happened."

Contestants placing first through sixth received certificates. Along with the certificates, first place won $100, second won $50 and third and fourth each won $20.

Speech topics ranged from mainstreaming the handicapped to chemical castration of men convicted of rape.

During her first-prize-winning speech, Christy Parsyck (freshman-journalism) said, "We have to get fired up about life again."

Parsyck's speech, titled "Did You Touch Someone Today," centered on the need for a caring society and how to create one.

"I think it's something people should be concerned about," she said, adding that it is a subject that is not typically addressed.

Competitor Beth Taubman (sophomore-speech communication) spoke about different types of athletic shoes and won second prize.

"It was a speech I used in class," she said. "I just choose the topic one day and did the research downtown. It worked out pretty well."

Third-prize went to Melanie Chiera (junior-English) for her speech on the Walt Disney World college program in which students can earn three credits while working in the field of their choice at Disney World in Orlando, Fla.

"Two of my friends were so enthusiastic about the Walt Disney World Program that I became interested in it and thought others would be interested in it as well."

Some contestants not only had to overcome nervousness at the event, but also specific speaking obstacles.

Chiera said she looks at the tops of people's heads instead of making eye contact to overcome the obstacles.

Taubman said she had to try to make the information understandable to everyone and keep her voice strong.