Webster University Forensics and Debate Team Win at National Comprehensive Tournament

Scott Jensen, director of Webster University's forensics and debate team and professor of speech communication studies announced today that the team won three awards in the top ten team and a national championship from the National Comprehensive Forensic Tournament (NCT), sponsored by Pi Kappa Delta.

Kim Runnion, a senior speech communication studies major and Adam Schneider, a freshman speech communication studies major, won the junior varsity division of parliamentary debate at the 2010 NCT, held this past weekend in Minneapolis, MN. Their win capped an impressive team showing that also resulted in three top ten team finishes--10th in overall sweepstakes, 10th in individual event sweepstakes, and 9th in debate sweepstakes. Students contributing to these outstanding finishes are Deanna Beaton, Megan Goodrich, Andrea Pepper, Melissa Uhl, Sean Lynn, Justin Raymundo, Shea Holland, Runnion, and Schneider.

The complete list of awards are as follows...

10th Overall Sweepstakes

9th Debate Sweepstakes

10th Individual Event Sweepstakes

1st Junior Varsity Parliamentary Debate, Runnion & Schneider

4th Speaker, Novice Parliamentary Debate, Raymundo

4th Speaker, Junior Varsity Parliamentary Debate, Runnion

5th To Honor the Environment, Goodrich

10th Speaker, Novice Parliamentary Debate, Holland

11th Speaker, Varsity Parliamentary Debate, Beaton

Semifinalist, Programmed Oral Interpretation, Goodrich

Semifinalist, After-Dinner Speaking, Beaton

Quarterfinalist, After-Dinner Speaking, Runnion

Quarterfinalists, Dramatic Duo, Goodrich & Beaton

Quarterfinalists, Dramatic Duo, Raymundo & Uhl

Quarterfinalist, Persuasive Speaking, Runnion'

Quarterfinalist, Poetry Interpretation, Raymundo

Quarterfinalist, Poetry Interpretation, Beaton

Octafinalists, Varsity Parliamentary Debate, Beaton & Goodrich

Excellent, Student Congress, Pepper

Excellent, Extemporaneous Speaking, Schneider

Also serving on the tournament staff, as well as on the Pi Kappa Delta National Council, were Gina Jensen, Pi Kappa Delta president-elect and assistant director of forensics, and Tom Serfass, Pi Kappa Delta professional development coordinator and assistant coach.

This tournament finish came on the heals of learning that Webster University ended the season ranked 29th out of 252 colleges and universities in the National Parliamentary Debate Association team sweepstakes. Additionally, Goodrich and Beaton ended the year ranked 76th out of 1,086 junior varsity and varsity parliamentary teams ranked by the National Parliamentary Tournament of Excellence.

The team has two more national tournaments to attend--the American Forensic Association National Individual Event Tournament in Eau Claire, WI and the Interstate Oratorical Contest in Norman, Oklahoma.

###