Oratory Competition with “Think Again” at UVA – 17 November 2025
(Clicking on an individual photograph will display a larger version of that photo)
The Charlottesville Branch looks forward to continuing as a Co-Sponsor for this worthy event going forward.
A video link is provided at the bottom of this page to watch the 1 hour and 15 minute recording of the event. You are encouraged to watch it and see some of the eight finalist presentations which are 5-minutes each.
Think Again hosted the fifth annual UVA Student Oratory Contest. 19 undergraduate and 11 graduate student contestants wrote and delivered five-minute speeches on the topic: “Describe an event from American history and explain how it illustrates a founding principle of our Declaration of Independence.” A bipartisan panel of judges, comprised of former White House and Cabinet-level speechwriters from the Reagan, Clinton and Bush administrations, as well as last year’s student winner, chose two winners from among eight finalists. The undergraduate and graduate winners each received a $1000 prize. The competition was open to the public and free to attend.
Contest Founder, Moderator, and ESU member, Mary Kate Cary introduced the event and interim UVA President, Paul Mahoney, addressed the attendees.
The winners are pictured below some of the additional participants.