Two Brownson Students Selected as Cornell University's "Emerging Advocates"  

Seton Hall University's Brownson Forensics Speech and Debate team competed in the B.R.A.I.N Advocacy Conference and Tournament hosted by Cornell University on Nov. 7. The Brownson team, housed in the College of Communication and the Arts, saw two of its students recognized with special awards at the competition.

The Brownson team and students from across the country participated in workshops and academic sessions on advocacy, resume writing, research and community building during the virtual event. In conjunction with Cornell University's Advocacy Project and facilitated by Cornell faculty, two special "Emerging Advocate" awards were presented, both of which were received by Seton Hall students for promoting advocacy through their messages.

Freshman Michael Kosmas won an "Emerging Advocate" award.

Freshman Michael Kosmas earned the "Emerging Advocate" award for his performance in Program Oral Interpretation. His message on the need to provide adequate and equitable mental healthcare for prisoners will be presented as a part of the Advocacy Project. Kosmas will also be interviewed by the organization and be featured in Cornell's newsletter.

"I am honored to receive this award, not only as a personal success, but as a success for those whom this advocacy is truly about," said Kosmas. "Advocacy is the heart and soul of speech and debate. We are there not just to win a competition, but to advocate for the issues we care about most. By sharing these stories, we can actively make a change."

Senior Brian Sumereau is the team captain of the Brownson Speech and Debate team.

Senior and team captain Brian Sumereau was presented with the second "Emerging Advocate" award for his persuasive message on organizational sexual identity discrimination. As a part of the Advocacy Project, Brian's address will be published in Cornell's undergraduate Law Review.

"Winning the 'Emerging Advocate' Award is an incredible honor. It means the world to me that the messages that I am spreading and the causes for which I am advocating will get even further reach. Cornell University is doing an amazing job of taking our 'calls to action' that we voice in competition rounds and bringing them outside of the tournament. I am so grateful for the opportunity I've gotten through the Seton Hall Brownson Team and for the work that Cornell is doing to elevate our voices and initiate real change," said Sumereau.

"The exemplary work of these students is proof of how Brownson's messages are designed to make real change beyond the realm of competition and promote diversity, equity and inclusion," said Catherine Zizik, team director and associate professor of communication. "These students serve as change agents in a time when their strong voices are desperately needed."

Categories: Arts and Culture, Education