Mariangel Solano Mendoza describes herself as a woman passionate about science, technology, and innovation in the service of health—which is what sparked her interest in studying Biomedical Engineering at the Industrial University of Santander. However, those who hear her speak say she displays great courage and conviction in defending her ideas.
Perhaps it was these qualities that led her to become the runner-up at the 6th World Spanish Public Speaking Championship, a competition organized by the Spanish University Debate League (LEDU) and the Latin American Network for University Cooperation (RLCU), held in Cali with an international jury of academics and journalists from Spain and Latin America.
“I’ve been dedicated to the art of public speaking since I was 9 years old. In school, I began participating in inter-school competitions, thanks to the recommendation of a teacher who knew I’d loved reciting poetry since I was very young. She suggested I enter one of these competitions, and with my parents’ support, I accepted. Since then, I’ve continued on this path, and now that I’m 18, I’ve been participating in various events and competitions for nine years, cultivating and strengthening my passion for this art,” says Mariangel.
He reached the finals alongside Óscar Rodríguez de Vivero, a student in the dual-degree program in International Studies and Economics at Carlos III University of Madrid (UC3M), after beating out more than 400 participants from universities in 22 countries. Also participating were Matteo Venettoni González, from the University of Almería, and Robin Jenniel Andrades Espinoza, from the American University of Managua (Nicaragua).
He reached the finals alongside Óscar Rodríguez de Vivero, a student in the dual-degree program in International Studies and Economics at Carlos III University of Madrid (UC3M), after beating out more than 400 participants from universities in 22 countries. Also participating were Matteo Venettoni González, from the University of Almería, and Robin Jenniel Andrades Espinoza, from the American University of Managua (Nicaragua).
“The best part was spending time with the other finalists, learning about their cultures, and learning from them, because each one has a different speaking style, different experiences, and a different background. It’s very rewarding to meet people who love this art as much as you do. Plus, the whole experience was magnificent; getting to know the organization, the Spanish University Debate League (LEDU), was spectacular. Facing a world-class stage was a huge challenge, since I had never participated in person at an international event—not even a national one. Although I’d already had virtual experiences at the national level, this was my first in-person opportunity at this level,” says the student, who is originally from La Guajira.
For this final round, both Óscar and Mariangel had to deliver a speech on a mandatory topic, addressing the question, “Does traveling make us citizens of the world or tourists in the lives of others?”
The competition required participants to combine the construction of arguments with the ability to convey them to the audience.
She says she learned about the event through social media, since the previous edition of the Championship was won by a Colombian student from the Universidad Autónoma de Occidente. “Based on the posts and news stories I saw—especially on Instagram—I started researching who organized the event, when it took place, and how it worked. That’s how my interest was sparked, and I began planning to participate this year. I hadn’t heard of the championship before; it was social media that allowed me to discover it and motivated me to participate,” she recalls.
For now, Mariangel is interested in exploring how engineering can contribute to the development of solutions that address society’s current challenges. She also enjoys learning, taking on new challenges, and connecting knowledge from different fields to find creative and innovative solutions.
The World Championship, organized by LEDU and the RLCU, brings together young college students from different countries to focus on critical thinking and public communication. The UAO has served as the host university for this edition and is hosting the in-person phase.
