Eligibility


This Year

Year 1 September 18-20, 2026: For the inaugural year of Peace Talks on Sept. 19, colleges and universities that participate in the C. Henry Smith Peace Oratorical Contest are invited to send a contestant and a faculty or staff mentor, whether or not the institution held a contest on its campus in 2026. Each year the contest will grow as eligibility widens.

Future Years

Year 2 in 2027 — Peace Talks is open to students from other faith-based colleges in the state of Indiana.

Year 3 in 2028 — Peace Talks is open to students from all colleges and universities across Indiana.

Year 4 in 2029 — Peace Talks is open to students from all colleges and universities across the United States.