(Posted February 22, 2024)

Seven finalists, from the left, Yoselin Kearney ’24, Gillian Cunningham ’25, Molly Sheets ’26, Dan Cummins ’24, Isabel Kruse ’24, Nicole Montes Pérez ’26, and  Lillian Case ’25, will compete in the 114th Bailey Oratorical at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, February 27. 

Seven finalists, from the left, Yoselin Kearney ’24, Gillian Cunningham ’25, Molly Sheets ’26, Dan Cummins ’24, Isabel Kruse ’24, Nicole Montes Pérez ’26, and  Lillian Case ’25, will compete in the 114th Bailey Oratorical at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, February 27. 

HUNTINGDON, Pa. – The 114th Bailey Oratorical hosted by the Communication Department at Juniata College is a campus tradition that annually draws insightful and compelling discourse from Juniata students. Open to the public, the annual speech competition will be held on Tuesday, February 27, at 7:30 p.m. in Alumni Hall, in Brumbaugh Academic Center, or can be viewed live online at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Z_PkqpEsM8 

Established in 1910, the Bailey Oratorical encourages students from all areas of study to present persuasive speeches on a topic that changes annually. The competition features prizes of $1,000, $700, and $500 for the top three students. In addition, the name of the winner will be permanently inscribed on an antique loving cup. Audience members are encouraged to participate in a text-to-vote poll for the People’s Choice Award, for which one of the student finalists will receive $100. 

This year’s student finalists are Lillian Case ’25 of Reading, Pa., who is studying business analytics; Dan Cummins ’24 of South Abington Township, Pa., who is studying accounting; Gillian Cunningham ’25 of Dallastown, Pa., who is studying environmental science; Yoselin Kearney ’24 of Philadelphia, Pa., who is studying media studies and production; Isabel Kruse ’24 of Huntingdon, Pa., who is studying international politics with a secondary emphasis in data science; Nicole Montes Pérez ’26 of South Gate, Calif., who is studying environmental studies with a secondary emphasis in politics; and Molly Sheets ’26 of Ada, Ohio, who is studying culture and communication.  

Over the next few days, faculty mentors will coach the students to polish their content and delivery in preparation for the final round of the competition.  

This year, the speech prompt is inspired by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ launch of “Healthy People 2030,” an initiative designed to identify priorities for addressing the holistic conditions that affect the quality of life. The finalists are asked, “What issue or condition needs to be addressed for individuals and communities to reach their full potential for health and well-being?”  

Judges for the final competition are Colton Hallabuk ’15, a marketing manager for Aesculap, Inc., the world’s largest and one of the most respected manufacturers of medical devices; Brenton Joo Mitchell ’06, a member of the faculty at Penn State University with the Center for Public Diplomacy, World in Conversation, who owns and operates Being Counseling; and Wendy Melius, executive director of the Center for Community Action, an agency focused on a holistic approach to strengthening families and communities.   

Twenty-two students competed in the preliminary round of the competition, which took place on February 17, 2024, with Alli Goulden ’19, Taylor Hallabuk ’20, and Tessa Senel ’21 serving as judges.  

The original Bailey Oratorical Award was established in 1910 by Letitia Fisher Bailey and the Honorable Thomas F. Bailey, who served as president judge of Huntingdon County from 1916 to 1936. The contest is named in honor of John M. Bailey, the father of Thomas Bailey and a former Huntingdon County president judge.  

The original prizes for the competition were $15 and $25. An enhanced endowment contribution by Judge Bailey’s son-in-law, Colonel Sedgley Thornbury, provides the contest’s prize money. The antique loving cup used in the competition was presented to the college by Colonel Thornbury’s son, Thomas Bailey Thornbury.  

Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.