C. Henry Smith Peace Oratorical Contest

Seven students participated in the 2012 contest on March 26, thus letting their voices for peace be heard. Each speaker applied the Christian peace position to a contemporary concern in 1,500 or less words (8-10 min).

Peace Oratorical Contest Winner Rose Byler
Pictured above is Rose Byler, EMU’s 2012 first place winner. She will receive a cash prize and compete in the bi-national competition later in the year. Below are all of the 2012 student participants.
Student orators in the Peace Oratorical Contest
L-R: Sarah Schoenhals, Taylor Weidman, Jamila Witmer, Joel Nofziger, Thomas Millary, Rose Byler, Julia Schmidt

Rose Byler, a senior social work major from Goshen, Ind., won first place with her speech, “Living into the Tension: Social Services and Systemic change.” The first-place winner receives a cash prize and entry in the bi-national competition with winners from other Mennonite-related colleges and universities in the United States and Canada. The bi-national winner is announced in late September/early October of each year.

Julia Schmidt, a junior from Pandora, Ohio, who is double-majoring in History as well as Philosophy and Theology, was first runner-up with her speech, “Holding Dignity in the Community of Faith.”

Taylor Weidman, a junior from Chambersburg, Pa., who is triple-majoring in Peacebuilding and Development, Environmental Sustainability, and Economics, was second runner-up with his speech, “Dissimilarity is Hope.”

Other 2012 contestants

  • Thomas Millary, “A Pluralistic Realm: Towards a Theology of Peace”
  • Joel Nofziger, “Confession as a Restorative Practice in the Church.”
  • Sarah Schoenhals, “Justice from Generation to Generation”
  • Jamila Witmer, “His Dream is our Command: Breaking Stereotypes through Integration”

CONGRATULATIONS to all seven contestants for compelling speeches! Listen to the seven speeches.

About the contest

The annual C. Henry Smith Peace Oratorical Contest, established in 1974 by the directors of the C. Henry Smith Trust, offers students an opportunity to discuss peacebuilding and social justice issues on campus. The intercollegiate competition is administered by the Peace and Justice Ministries of Mennonite Central Committee (MCC). Undergraduate students from every Mennonite and Brethren in Christ college in North America are eligible to participate.

C. Henry Smith was an American Mennonite historian and professor at Mennonite colleges and the University of Chicago. Overall, he taught history for nearly 50 years at the collegiate level. 1 He is well-known for his numerous books on Mennonite history and his particular attention to the peace commitments of the Mennonite tradition.

The first-place winner in the competition at EMU receives a $250 cash prize and entry in the intercollegiate competition. Participants may earn one hour of peacebuilding and development (PXD) course credit. Orations apply the Christian peace position to a contemporary concern without exceeding 1,500 words (eight to 10 minutes spoken word). Read contest guidelines for more info or submit your name as a contestant in the next contest – 2013.

EMU has participated in the event since 2003, with EMU students winning the grand prize at the bi-national level in 2003, 2004, 2007, 2009 and 2011. The contest is sponsored by EMU Bible & Religion, Language & Literature, and Peacebuilding & Development programs.

Read news coverage of the 2012 contest and news archive stories from previous years.

Online resources for orators

Confession of Faith in a Mennonite Perspective, Article 22
And No One Shall Make Them Afraid – Mennonite Church USA Statement
Fellowship of Reconciliation web site
Peace & Justice Support Network web site

Recent EMU winners

2011 Jessica Sarriot, Hold on, Together. Also the bi-national winner.
2010 Jessica Sarriot, Peace Churches and War Profits: A Moment for Courage. Bi-national 2nd.
2009 Laura Cattell, Structural Violence in the U.S. Educational System. Also the bi-national winner.
2008 Anna Engle, Called to True Pacifism
2007 Nicholas Stoddard, Connect the Dots. Also the bi-national winner.
2005 Sharon Kniss, Engaging the Terrorists: A Discourse on Living with the Other
2004 Jeremy Yoder, Flooding Isengard: Why a Peace Church should be a Green Church. Also the bi-national winner.
2003 Zachury Kurtz, A Taxing Dilemma. Also the bi-national winner.

*EMU did not participate in the competition in 2006.

1. Smith, C. Henry Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online.