Communications prof earns judge certification

Ann Minnick, associate professor of communications at Northwestern College, has recently received speech judge certification from the Iowa High School Speech Association (IHSSA).

The IHSSA is an organization dedicated to promoting speech training in Iowa secondary schools. Comprised of 40,000 students, the association hosts an annual series of state contests between 487 member schools in three areas of competition: debate, large group and individual events.

Minnick has been certified to judge both large group and individual speech contestants during the contests. She will be qualified to judge various types of speech, including public address, acting, radio news announcing, storytelling, reviewing, one-act plays, choral reading and debate, among others.

In addition to her role as judge, Minnick also serves on the board of the Iowa Communications Association. “Most of our members earn certification so we can represent the board at contests,” says Minnick. “It serves as a way to further speech communication in the state of Iowa.”

Prior to joining Northwestern’s staff in 2007, Minnick served as the community relations director for the Orange City Area Health System. She has also coordinated public relations and marketing efforts for hospitals in Sioux Falls, S.D., Iowa City, Iowa and Grinnell, Iowa. A Northwestern College alumna, Minnick earned a master’s degree in journalism and public relations from the University of Iowa.