Anita Williams Peck Public Speaking Competition

Kingston High School students compete for $6,000 in scholarship awards for the best public speaking presentations. Each student delivers a five-minute persuasive speech on a current event topic before a panel of judges. The awards are made possible through charitable gifts received by the Ulster Community College Foundation, Inc. from Anita Williams Peck, former owner of Williams Lake Resort, an alumna of Kingston High School, and past secretary and Immediate Past Chair of the Ulster Community College Foundation, Inc. Board of Directors.

Anita Williams Peck passed away on January 26th, 2019. Anita left a legacy of time, talent, and gifts to SUNY Ulster and to our students. In 2019, we celebrated the 10-Year Anniversary of the speaking competition in her name.

Anita's estate plans included a bequest for the Anita Williams Peck Speaking Competition which ensures the funding of the speaking competition awards in perpetuity. We look forward to seeing you all in 2021! #BeLikeAnita!

The June 2020 Anita Williams Peck Public Speaking Competition has been postponed until June 2021 due to the Coronavirus.

2019 Winners

First Place Winner: Alexa Pardo (Sexual Assault): The Stentorian Award
Second Place Winner: Xavier Sharp (Biracial Ignorance): Top Lecture Award
Third Place Winner: Kira Milgrim (The Roots of Gender Discrepancy)

Students holding awards with Anita Williams Peck

Students holding awards with Anita Williams Peck

2018 Winners

First Place Winner: Christina Demosthenes: The Stentorian Award
Kelly Manley: Second Place, Top Lecture Award
Jurnee Blackwood: Third Place Winner

Students holding awards with Anita Williams Peck

2017 Winners

Taylor O'Connor: First place
Taylor Robey: Second place

Students holding awards with Anita Williams Peck

2016 Winners

Rudy Weitze: First place winner of the Stentorian Award for a $3,500 scholarship
Andrew Hoben: Second place winner of the Top Lecturer Award for a $1,500 scholarship.
Codi Childs: Third Place

Students holding awards with Anita Williams Peck

2015 Winners

Emily Einhorn: First place winner of the Stentorian Award for a $3,500 scholarship
Brooklynn Milliken: Second place winner of the Top Lecturer Award for a $1,500 scholarship.

Students holding awards with Anita Williams Peck

2014 Winners

Tyler Hubbs: First place winner of the Stentorian Award for a $3,500 scholarship
Justin Conley: Second place winner of the Top Lecturer Award for a $1,500 scholarship.

Anita Peck with 2014 winners

2013 Winners

Harriet Lindeman: First place winner of The Stentorian award
Maegan Nielson: Second place, winner of the Top Lecturer award

2012 Winners

Cody James Naccarato: First Place winner of The Stentorian Award and a $3,500 scholarship for “Internet Piracy”
Ricki Jeanne Maggiore: Second place, receiving The Top Lecturer Award and a $1,500 scholarship for "Cheerleading as a Sport"

2012 Anita Peck Public Speaking contest winners

Winners of the competition (l to r:) Ward Todd, President, Ulster County Regional Chamber of Commerce; Linda Still, Kingston High School English Faculty; Anita Williams Peck; Cody James Naccarato; Ricki Jeanne Maggiore; Mary Tarcza; John Moriarty, Kingston High School Public Speaking Faculty Member (ret’d); and Rachael A. Scorca, Kingston High School English Faculty.

2011 Winners

Sarah Jean Connor: First Place winner of The Stentorian Award and a $3,500 scholarship for "Wikileaks and America's Most Wanted Man?"

James (Jimmy) DeCicco: Second place, receiving The Top Lecturer Award and a $1,500 scholarship for "Steroids and Sports- Not the Winning Combination"