EAU CLAIRE -- Libby Haight, a University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire sophomore political science major from Anoka, Minn., placed fifth at the 125th Interstate Oratory Contest held the weekend of April 25-27 in Colonial Williamsburg, Va.

Two student representatives from every state in the country presented their oratories on issues in America at the contest, which is the oldest speech tournament in the country. The top six participants in the tournament presented their speeches at the House of Burgess in Colonial Williamsburg.

Students attending the tournament have their speeches published in "Winning Orations," a publication often used as a source of speech examples by many of the nation's college textbooks.

The second Wisconsin representative at the tournament was Jennifer Sunstrom, a UW-Eau Claire senior communication and political science major from Appleton.

UW-Eau Claire has been honored by the Interstate Oratory Contest for having the longest history of finalists and champions from the tournament. UW-Eau Claire has had a representative attend the contest every year since 1948. More than 10 speeches by UW-Eau Claire students have been published in textbooks as a result of the contest.

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JB

Updated: May 2, 1997