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5th Annual UVA Student Oratory Competition

The 5th Annual UVA Student Oratory Competition was held at 5pm on November 17th, 2025 in the Dome Room of the Rotunda. Finalists delivered speeches on this year's prompt: 

"Describe an event from American history and explain how it illustrates a founding principle of our Declaration of Independence."

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2025 Oratory Competition Recap

Undergraduate Finalists

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Undergraduate Winner

Deanna Wilbourn

Deanna's Speech
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Undergraduate Finalist

Anant Gautam

Anant's Speech
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Undergraduate Finalist

Madeline Livingston

Madeline's Speech
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Undergraduate Finalist

Nolan Hite

Nolan's Speech

Graduate Finalists

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Graduate Winner

Elizabeth Baldwin

Elizabeth's Speech
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Graduate Finalist

Thomas Murphy

Thomas' Speech
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Graduate Finalist

Michael Rattner

Michael's Speech
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Graduate Finalist

Brandon Morgan

Brandon's Speech

First Annual Oratory Faceoff

UVA vs. Georgetown

March 20, 2026

Hoyas vs. Hoos!

On Friday, March 20, 2026, four UVA students and four Georgetown students competed in the First Annual Oratory Competition Faceoff. UVA fourth-year Deanna Wilbourn was victorious, bringing home the cup for team UVA. Click the buttons below to learn more about the competition.

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