SURGE 1 & 2 Elevator Speech Contest

Published June 20, 2017

SURGE 1 and 2 Scholars competed for best Elevator Speech aimed at a scientific audience and lay audience on June 20. The winning speakers, listed below, received a coveted chocolate medallion. Honing their elevator speeches helps Scholars speak more clearly about their research and this contest not only gave them the incentive to give their best but also highlights what good elevator speeches can look like.

  • Rhea Mehta, First Place, SURGE 1, Scientific
  • Gregory Kouris, Second Place, SURGE 1, Scientific
  • Joshuah Gagan, First Place, SURGE 2, Scientific
  • John-Edward Poli, First Place, SURGE 1, Family & Friends
  • Do (Diane) Kim, Second Place, SURGE 1, Family & Friends
  • Edward Thai, First Place, SURGE 2, Family & Friends

In addition, Katherine Henson won the “Children’s Choice” award and received a box of Kellog’s Frosted Flakes.

Congratulations go out to all our finalists who made it to the final round: Scientific – Tatiana Avila, Reah Chiong, Ariel Gilligan, Jesus Hoil, Jacquelyn Villalba and Jason Watts; Family & Friends – Carlos Alvarado, Kenneth Bush, Stephanie Leal, and Andrea Luna. Scores for everyone’s presentation were very close!

Judges

Judge panels
There were two panels of judges: One for the academic speeches and one for the lay audience speeches.
kids choice judges
Just for fun, there was a special panel for "Kids' Choice" award.

 

Academic Audience Elevator Speech Contest

Jesus Hoil, Year One Scholar
Jesus Hoil, Year One Scholar
Ariel Gilligan, Year One Scholar
Ariel Gilligan, Year One Scholar
Gregory Kouris, Year One Scholar
Gregory Kouris, Year One Scholar
Reah Chiong, Year One Scholar
Reah Chiong, Year One Scholar
Rhea Mehta, Year One Scholar
Rhea Mehta, Year One Scholar
Landon Watts, Year Two Scholar
Landon Watts, Year Two Scholar
Joshuah Gagan, Year Two Scholar
Joshuah Gagan, Year Two Scholar
Tatiana Avila, Year Two Scholar
Tatiana Avila, Year Two Scholar
Jacquelyn Villalba, Year One Scholar
Jacquelyn Villalba, Year One Scholar
Academic Elevator Speech Contestents, 2017
Academic Elevator Speech Contestents, 2017

 

 

Friends & Family Elevator Speech Contest

Stephanie Leal, Year One Scholar
Stephanie Leal, Year One Scholar
Katherine Henson, Year One Scholar
Katherine Henson, Year One Scholar
Do (Diane) Kim, Year One Scholar
Do (Diane) Kim, Year One Scholar
Carlos Alvarado, Year Two Scholar
Carlos Alvarado, Year Two Scholar
Edward Thai, Year Two Scholar
Edward Thai, Year Two Scholar
Andrea Luna, Year One Scholar
Andrea Luna, Year One Scholar
Kenneth Bush, Year One Scholar
Kenneth Bush, Year One Scholar
Friends & Family Elevator Speech Contestants, 2017
Friends & Family Elevator Speech Contestants, 2017

 

Contest Highlights

The Winners of the Elevator Speech Contests, 2017
The Winners of the Elevator Speech Contests, 2017
Rhea Mehta wins the Academic Elevator Speech Contest, 2017
Rhea Mehta wins the Academic Elevator Speech Contest, 2017
After the contest, eveyone enjoyed some pizza
After the contest, eveyone enjoyed some pizza

Video Highlights

Below are the winning Elevator Speeches.

Academic Elevator Speeches

SURGE 1, First Place Winner, Rhea Mehta

Rhea Mehta's Video

SURGE 1, Second Place Winner, Gregory Kouris

Gregory Kouris' Elevator Speech

SURGE 2, First Place Winner, Joshuah Gagan

Joshuah Gagan's Elevator Speech

Friends and Family Elevator Speeches

SURGE 1, First Place Winner, John-Edward Poli

John-Edward Poli's Elevator Speech

SURGE 1, Second Place Winner, Do (Diane) Kim

Diane Kim's Elevator Speech

SURGE 2, First Place Winner, Edward Thai

Edward Thai's Elevator Speech