Way to go ZTA . . .
http://www.thetigernews.com/vnews/di.../3ddda72e7ae50
Vision, passion result in Tiger Cup victory
Senior Anne Snipes discovers that there is a first time for everything.
WILL SPINK
Anne Snipes thought she would never see her name on the big screen at Death Valley; she's just "not athletic," as she puts it. Then again, she never thought of herself as a public speaker either.
In the span of one week, however, Snipes' passion for Clemson resulted in her winning the Eighth annual Tiger Cup Oratory Competition and seeing her name on the screen during the football game Saturday night.
Snipes always wanted to attend Clemson, but she ended up at Wofford for one year before transferring. This experience, she said, made her realize how special Clemson is, and she now calls Clemson "something I am so passionate about."
"I'm a tour guide, so I get to tell people what I love about Clemson," she explained. "Certainly it's not perfect, but it is definitely the place I was meant to be."
Snipes' passion for Clemson was evident throughout her speech, which focused on a vision for the University that is "as good as its promise." She suggested that the school's journey to that status would require a "unique balance" of traditions and vision for the future as well as "unrivaled unity" of faculty, students and community.
Snipes, who represented Zeta Tau Alpha, insisted that Clemson has all the ingredients to meet its stated goals in the near future. She added, however, that it will require a commitment from everyone involved to achieve "the greatness that Clemson deserves."
"She was remarkable. Her speech was maybe not the most eloquently presented, but it was certainly the best written," commented Dr. Bobby McCormick, a former Tiger Cup judge.
Snipes, a senior majoring in speech and communications, said that she is interested in using her skills to become a political speech writer or an advertising worker.
McCormick, who said Snipes showed "keen insight into issues facing the University, maturity past her age and heartfelt passion," added that the judges were certainly impressed with the content of all the speeches and that they told him it was very difficult to make cuts.
Four other finalists received prizes for their participation in the competition. In their order of finish behind Snipes, they were Jill Marklin (Delta Delta Delta), Kacky Stout (Kappa Kappa Gamma), Laura Liptak (Alpha Delta Phi) and Ian Turnipseed (Forensics Team).
"This year's competition personified the transition we're trying to make into top 20 status," McCormick stated. "The current version was a cut above, and it was definitely a top 20 move. This contest could eventually be one of the things people are most proud of at this University."
He gave much credit for the success of the competition to Joseph Godsey, who "worked tirelessly" to organize and advertise the event.
Godsey commented on the competition, "Having students contribute to the visioning and building process reaches straight into the foundation and traditions this University is based upon."
In addition to the numerous University and community members who heard the speeches, President Barker, Provost Helms and the deans of all five colleges are receiving copies of the 16 original speeches, he said.
"The whole thing is such a great idea," Snipes noted. "It's a great way to celebrate homecoming and to celebrate Clemson."
One way the competition celebrated Clemson and its history was by holding the final round in Farmer's Hall. This is the place where Thomas Green Clemson began discussing the ideas for the University and where many of the University's charter documents were signed.
Snipes said that this helped her to see her "place in the Clemson family," because she shared her vision for the University in that same place. The visions presented by students in the competition continued the tie with that original vision, a process that Tiger Cup organizers and participants hope continues to link Clemson's rich past with its promising future.
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