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 current chair of the Ulster Community College Foundation, Inc. Board of Directors.

This years' event was held on Thursday, June 14 at 7:00 pm.

2018 Winners

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

Anita Williams Peck competition 2017

2017 Winners

Taylor O'Connor: First place

Taylor Robey: Second place

Anita Williams Peck competition 2017

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

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.

Anita Peck with 2015 winners

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"