
Spesia & Taylor attorney Michael Hopkins was recently inducted into the Prairie State College Forensics Team Hall of Fame. During his tenure with the team from 1998 to 2000, Hopkins participated in speech competitions throughout Illinois, winning first place awards in both the Informative Speaking and Speech to Entertain categories.
“I truly consider this an honor,” said Hopkins of his induction. “But I must say, my fellow team members and I were lucky enough to have a first-class speech coach in Professor Ed Schwartz. He worked with us tirelessly and fostered a creative atmosphere that allowed each of us find our voice – and to use it effectively in competition.”
Hopkins said his experiences with the Prairie State College Forensics Team opened doors for him as a speechwriter and in public relations after college – and eventually paved the way for him to attend law school.
“I got a great start at Prairie State,” Hopkins said. “Being a member of the Forensics team was a big part of that, and I’m grateful for everything the college and the team made possible for me.”