The speakers at American Universities are always available to talk about the new trends and best practices in their industry. One of the most common trends is the talk about the presenter as an “outsider” with a platform from which to share his or her viewpoint. This observation has occurred because the modern platform for hosting a conference, discussion panel or a question and answer session is the web. It’s not that speakers are no longer expected to stand up and give a speech; it’s that the Internet has made them the de facto presenter of the speech.
Some of the biggest trends in speech categories are those focusing on the informational category. These include the 21st Century State of the nation awards such as the best efforts division, outstanding graduate program in environmental studies, innovation in education, among many others. As the Internet evolves into a more multimedia environment with video, podcasting and other forms of distributed audio and visual content, these informational speech categories are taking on an increasing amount of importance. Whether you are looking for a speech on the positive outlook of the nation’s economy, the upcoming of the next Silicon Valley disruptor or information on the latest innovations in green technology, there are plenty of online sites where you can find relevant information for your science, technology, engineering and math (also GED) programs.
Speaking of classes that provide information, there are plenty of National Champion Science Fair projects, such as the Clay Mathematics Competition, as well as more general category awards. At the science and engineering organization of America, the Association of American Wheelchair Coaches sponsors the annual ACAWP competition. At the undergraduate level, at the University of Michigan, there is the ACAWP/NAHBPS competition for wheelchair accessible vans. The University of Houston also sponsors a national championship for wheelchair accessible vans and its student organizers are looking into ways to increase participation rates.
Speech recognition may be accomplished by a presentation of a paper, a written article, a presentation CD-ROM, a video or live performance. In case of the latter, the speaker’s personal credentials (i.e., degree from a university or college, membership in a professional association) will be presented along with any relevant awards won in the competition. For example, the science and engineering association of America’s recent Southwestern Forensics conference was organized by the Southeastern Association of Colleges and Schools. This conference featured a presentation by a former FBI agent, a white collar crime investigator, a former Louisiana state trooper, a former truck driver, an ERP software company executive and a Louisiana state prosecutor.
There are speech recognition and education opportunities galore for professionals working in related fields. For example, the forensics association national individual events series features a variety of presentations, workshops and discussions, such as the one on criminal justice administration and law enforcement logistics leadership. The association also sponsors Maggie Bridges’ public speaking honor, which includes a book, DVD and personalized key chain gifts. Special recognition is given to law enforcement agents and probation and parole officers who have made major contributions to training, equipment and support in their respective departments.
One of the most anticipated speech awards is the luke air cuff 5th anniversary commemoration, which is given to law enforcement personnel in the line of duty who have made significant contributions to the community and made an outstanding performance that warrants recognition. The award is given by the National Association of Police officers and is facilitated by Maggie Bridges, who is the wife of Louisiana state representative Jeff Bridges. The speakers at the luke air cuff 5th anniversary commemoration include former police officers Elton Banks and Robert Faulconner, former FBI agent Jerry Franklin IV and former Oklahoma Bureau of Investigation agent Mark Lane III. Speakers at the commemoration also include representatives of the Louisiana State Troopers Association, the Louisiana State Police Association, the Louisiana State Fire Marshals Association, the Louisiana State Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, and several others.