Whitworth University Communication Studies Department Spotlight - Speech students win forensics competition

Department Spotlight

Advanced Public-Speaking Students Sweep Intercollegiate Forensics Competition

Whitworth students in Professor of Communication Studies Mike Ingram's Advanced Public Speaking class competed in the intercollegiate forensics competition held March 8-9, 2008, at Spokane Falls Community College. Whitworth finished first in the overall standings among four-year schools to win the tournament sweepstakes award. Ingram, the former director of forensics at Whitworth, coached the Whitworth students and served as director of the tournament on behalf of his colleague Craig Rickett, director of forensics at SFCC.

The Whitworth students, all juniors or seniors, competed in individual speaking events and in parliamentary debate against students from four-year colleges and universities as well as community colleges. Other participating schools included Pacific Lutheran University, Clackamas Community College, Bringham Young University Idaho, Columbia Basin College, Spokane Falls Community College, Lower Columbia College, Oregon State University, University of Montana, and Carroll College.

In the parliamentary debate competition, the team of Mikey Bryant and John Williamson were semifinalists, placing as one of the top four debate teams. Whitworth’s other two debate teams comprising Sarah Tunall and Chris Caldwell, and Jennifer Norwood and Travis Park were quarterfinalists, placing as two of the top eight debate teams. In debate-speaker awards, Tunall placed fourth and Park placed 10th.

In individual speaking events, Tunall took first place in extemporaneous speaking. In impromptu speaking, Kyle Pflug placed fourth, Tunall placed fifth, and Park placed sixth. In persuasive speaking, Angela Southard placed second, while Jessica Normile took third and Bryan Clarke took fifth. In the informative speech category, Norwood placed second, Katie Skattebo placed fourth, and Williamson took fifth place. Chris Caldwell won first place in the after-dinner speaking category.

Located in Spokane, Wash., Whitworth is a private, liberal arts university affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA). The university, which has an enrollment of 2,600 students, offers 53 undergraduate and graduate degree programs.