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MARIETTA – Marietta College announced seniors Katie Taylor and Kanae Yoshida as the 2026 Jewett Speech Competition winners. The competition is regarded as one of the college’s oldest commencement traditions.

Taylor and Yoshida will deliver their speeches during the college’s commencement ceremony slated for May 9.

According to the release from the college, Taylor studied health science and earned first place for her speech titled, “This Is It.”

Yoshida majored in communication studies and received second place for her speech titled, “Knocking on The Door.”

Taylor was a native of Parkersburg and will also graduate with a minor in health communication. She was a member of the Alpha Xi Delta sorority.

“I was inspired to write this speech as I faced the rapidly approaching conclusion to my time at Marietta College, which allowed me to recognize the value of each moment,” said Taylor. “I hope that my message encourages my classmates to move forward with intention and embrace every opportunity that they are given, no matter how small.”

Jewett Speech Competition second place winner Yoshida was from Japan and was a leader of the International Student Union and Anime Club at the college.

Yoshida volunteered for the college’s Office of Student Connections and Outreach and the Office of Marketing and Communication.

“Being selected as a Jewett winner feels like the final result of my communication degree,” she said. “One of the main reasons I came to the U.S. was to learn speech and presentation skills. I am very grateful for the chance to create a final product from everything I learned and experienced at Marietta College and to share it with others.”

The Jewett Prize goes back to 1835 when the college was founded. The tradition now selects two graduating seniors to give speeches at the commencement ceremony. The winners of the competition also received cash awards.

“Commencement at Marietta College would not be complete without the graduating student speeches,” said Dr. Cheongmi Shim, who is an assistant professor and basic course director in the Communication Department. “The Jewett Speech Competition plays a central role in selecting those voices.”

The competition was held April 1 and resulted in five student finalists. Each student presented their speeches before a panel of judges, which included academic faculty in various departments and students with the Student Government Association.

According to the release, speeches were judged based on content, delivery and connection with the audience.

The Jewett Speech Competition is organized by Dr. Shim and Professor Ann Nicely. For more information visit marietta.edu/jewett-prize

Amber Phipps can be reached at aphipps@newsandsentinel.com