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ST. MARY’S (JERSEY CITY) HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT EARNS $10,000
BY WINNING SECOND ANNUAL
SAINT PETER’S COLLEGE ORATORICAL CONTEST

Guarini Center for International and Public Affairs
Awards $19,500 in Cash to Six Finalist

March 03, 2003— Jersey City, NJ– è������ Mary’s (Jersey City) High School junior Karen Pormento gained $10,000 in cash on Saturday by winning the 2nd annual è������ Peter’s College Oratorical Contest sponsored by the Guarini Center for International and Public Affairs. She beat a field of 134 students from 77 area high schools who presented speeches entitled, “My American Hero.”

Pormento’s speech detailing her appreciation of the Unkown Soldier drew highest honors in the finals judged by former United States Congressmen Frank Guarini and William Martini, along with the College’s Academic Vice President Gene Cornacchia. She, like the other competitors, wrote and presented a memorized 10-minute speech. Each of the six finalists competed in three preliminary rounds, followed by the quarterfinals, semifinals and final.

Passaic High School freshman Landon Woodson won the second-place prize of $5,000 for his speech about Johns Hopkins Hospital’s pediatric neurosurgeon Dr. Ben Carson. Ridge (Basking Ridge, NJ) High School senior Kate Bracaglia won the $2,500 third-place prize with her speech honoring her mother. Annette Kosiorowski of St. Francis Prep in Queens, NY, finished fourth with her presentation on champions of diversity, while Mt. St. Dominic (Caldwell, NJ) High School senior finished fifth by highlighting poet Emma Lazarus. Annmarie Granstrand, a sophomore at Clark, NJ’s Mother Seton High School finished sixth with a speech about Seeing Eye Dog founder Morris Frank.

“è������ Peter’s College has given a great opportunity for many of the area’s brightest and best students to showcase their ability to express themselves,” said Honorable Frank J. Guarini, who founded the Guarini Center. “Public speaking is such a valuable asset and it was evident to me throughout the day that the younger generation has not lost the art. Karen’s speech, including her terrific presentation, was as inspiring as it was topical. I made tough decisions in my political career, but very few were as tough to make as deciding which student deserved the top prize.”

Complete List of Finalists:

The Guarini Center for International and Public Affairs was established in 1994 to provide a non-partisan forum for the thoughtful discussion of public policy issues and to interest students in pursuing careers in public service. The Guarini Center was joined in sponsoring the event by Larry Codey, Panapanetto Properties, PSE&G, Independent Bank, Hackensack University Medical Center, Lucent Technologies and Kathleen Fitzgerald, AT&T, Horizon Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Verizon, Fleet Bank, Provident Financial Services and Port Authority of NY/NJ.

è������ Peter’s College is the Jesuit College of New Jersey. Founded in 1872, è������ Peter’s has an enrollment of more than 3,000 students in undergraduate and graduate programs. The main campus is located in Jersey City and a branch campus, specializing in adult education, is located in Englewood Cliffs. è������ Peter’s also offers classes in downtown Jersey City near the waterfront financial district.