Speech and debate team brings home numerous wins from national contest

Chapman University’s Forensics Team is carrying a little extra weight this week, thanks to a small mountain of trophies and awards the speech and debate students won at the National Forensics League Comprehensive Tournament held March 16-18 in Overland Park, Kan.

“Chapman Forensics had an amazing time. We had a team break, meaning that every student that we took to nationals made it to the elimination rounds and came home with trophies,” said Cindy N. Phu, instructor, and director of forensics for the speech and debate program offered by Wilkinson College’s Department of Communication Studies.

Even with a select traveling team of just seven members, the Chapman crew garnered enough wins to place 14
^th
overall in the tournament, which included 70 schools. This was the largest team sent to nationals in a number of years, said Phu, who was an adjunct faculty member for a year before being hired this fall to direct the program. Phu previously coached the nationally-ranked Pasadena City College forensics team.

“We are proud of them,” Phu said.

The national win comes on the heels of a successful competition season locally.Last month the entire team competed in the Pacific Southwest Collegiate Forensics Association regional competition and placed third overall. Later this spring the program will hold a Vocalize Event Show Case to present some of the students’ competition pieces. Stay tuned, or watch for updates on the
Chapman Forensics Team
Facebook page.

Results from the national event follow:

Pauline Moran:


* Informative Speaking: Semifinalist

* Poetry Interpretation: Quarter-finalist

 

Jasmine Johnson:


* Informative Speaking: Quarter-finalist Persuasive Speaking:

* Quarter-finalist After Dinner Speaking: Quarter-finalist Communication

* Analysis: Excellence

 

Tim Seavey:


* Informative Speaking: Semifinalist

* Impromptu Speaking: Excellence

* Parli Junior Debate: Quarter-finalist

* 7th Place Junior Parli Speaker

 

Isabelle Shain:


* Junior Parli Debate: Quarter-finalist

* Impromptu Speaking: Excellence

 

Hasnu Kwatra:


* Informative Speaking: 3rd Place

* Communication Analysis: Quarter-finalist Persuasive Speaking:

* Quarter-finalist

 

Kevin Taucher:


* Duo Interpretation: 4th Place

 

John Kelly:


* Duo Interpretation: 4th Place

* Prose Interpretation: Excellence!