Forensics Earns High Honors in St. Louis

 
Truman’s forensics union – speech and debate team – competed at the annual Gorlok Gala speech and debate tournament, hosted by Webster University in St. Louis, Jan. 24-26.

The team had a great weekend, earning multiple awards. In individual event speaking, senior Austin Sopko earned fourth place in pentathlon, a category for students who achieve well-rounded success in at least five different speaking events. Sopko placed second in after-dinner speaking and second in duo interpretation, the latter he shared with junior Audrey Baker. Baker and Sopko also earned an excellence award in improvisational pairs, meaning that they were in the top 30 percent of competitors in the event. Baker also earned an excellence award in persuasive speaking.

Senior Rebecca Walker reached finals with her persuasive speech, earning fourth place. Additionally, sophomore Jackson Elder was named the 16th best speaker in varsity Lincoln-Douglas debate.
 
The team will travel next to the Missouri Association of Forensic Activities Championship Tournament, Feb. 13-15 at Crowder College in Neosho, Mo.
 
For more information on how to get involved, visit forensics.truman.edu or contact Christopher Outzen, director of forensics, at coutzen@truman.edu, or Craig Hennigan, assistant director of forensics at chennigan@truman.edu.