Communication Application

The Communication 5 Minute Challenge has been completed for the 25-26 School Year. 

Please check back in the Spring 2027 semester for the next Communication 5 Minute Challenge competition application and details

Political Science Application

Application Due: Wednesday, October 28th, 2026

Apply Here

Finalist Training Completion: Wednesday, November 4th, 2026

Competition Date: Wednesday, November 11th, 2026

COMPETITION ELIGIBILITY

Eligible students select in only ONE of the competition tracks – communication or political science.

COMMUNICATION  – You must be a full-time Purdue University undergraduate and meet ONE of these criteria:

• be a COM Major or Minor or
• have taken a COM course in Fall 2026 or
• be currently enrolled in a COM course
• Only Selected Finalists will compete and receive $100

POLITICAL SCIENCE – You must be a full-time Purdue University undergraduate and meet ONE of these criteria:

• be a POLSCI Major or Minor or
• have taken a POLSCI course in Spring 2026 or Summer 2026 or
• be currently enrolled in a POLSCI course
• Only Top 10 Finalists will compete and receive $100

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PRESENTATION CRITERIA

Eligible students select and compete in only ONE of the competition tracks – communication or political science – and will choose a concept or theory from the selected academic track for their presentation.

Presentation must:

• be 4-6 minutes in length
• include two video clips from the C-SPAN Video Library that illustrate the concept or theory
• clips will demonstrate a clear understanding of the concept or theory at work
• clips should not exceed 20 seconds each or 40 seconds combined length
• include a final slide with source citations formatted for the selected academic track
• APA for Communication track
• APSA for Political Science track
• be based on concept or theory from the selected academic track
• concept or theory must be clearly stated and defined

CASH PRIZES

• Top Finalists selected by each department who attend one help session or pass the C-SPAN Video Library quiz with a 100% score and prepare and present in-person at the competition a 5-minute presentation on a concept or theory from their chosen competition track will receive $100.
• Winners receive an additional $500.
• All applicable prize money will be disbursed directly into each competitor’s Bursar Account.

• PLEASE NOTE: Only top finalists selected by the sponsoring Department will present and receive $100

COMPETITOR RESOURCES

C-SPAN Video Library How To Document: bit.ly/CCSEHowToGuideCSPAN​

Presentation Training: Purdue Presentation Center helps Purdue students with preparing for or delivering a presentation: https://cla.purdue.edu/communication/presentationcenter/​

Video Examples of Competition: Center for C-SPAN YouTube