Freshman Neuroscience Major Excels in UK Forensics

of

LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 10, 2016)  Public speaking can be a daunting task. While some students cringe at the idea of standing up in front of their peers and presenting their ideas, others see it as a thrilling and challenging opportunity. For Veronica Scott, a University of Kentucky freshman neuroscience major in the College of Arts and Sciences and a member of the UK Forensics team, public speaking is a passion.

The UK Forensics team, a student organization within the School of Information Science of the UK College of Communication and Information, competes in speech and debate events in local, state and national tournaments throughout the academic year. The goal of college forensics is to provide a platform for students to learn how to communicate ideas, opinions and feelings in a meaningful and impactful way.

"We are all incredibly connected, and the worst thing in the world would be to impact each other without ever communicating with each other. That's why forensics is important." Scott said. "I am grateful to forensics because it gives me a platform to explore ideas."

Scott, daughter of Robert and Suzanne Scott from Franklin, Tennessee, dabbled in forensics in high school and quickly fell in love with it after her first tournament.

"The fact that the university had a forensics team that did parliamentary debate and speech events was a huge pull for me to come to UK," Scott said.

Although only a freshman, Scott has already achieved a lot in her short time on the team. During this year's Kentucky Forensic Association state championship tournament, Scott took tournament champion in persuasive speaking, champion in the radio broadcasting tournament and third place finisher in parliamentary debate, earning the title of Top Novice in all three events. Her 10-minute speech on how Western ideologies prevent a proper understanding of pain earned her the tournament championship in persuasive speaking, making Scott the first UK student to ever automatically qualify for the 134th Interstate Oratorical Association national tournament. The Interstate Oratory National is unique in the nation in that only two competitors from each state may qualify to attend the tournament.

UK Forensics earned a number of other impressive distinctions at the state championship tournament. (See below for the full results.) The team also qualified two more speeches for the National Forensic Association national tournament in April.

When asked about the experience, Scott said, "It's a bit surreal. I didn't go into the tournament expecting to win, but I was very passionate about my topic. We have some amazing competitors, both on the team and on the circuit, so I'm really grateful to my coach for helping me turn a really broad, philosophical topic into a speech that could win." 

Scott's favorite debate style, parliamentary debate, is modeled after the British Parliament and gives the speaker only 15 minutes to prepare a side for the topic. She mentions that on tournament day, "papers are everywhere, people are everywhere, and ideas are everywhere — often from early morning to late at night."

As a neuroscience major, Scott hopes to incorporate her public speaking skills into her future career.

"I want to use brain mapping to work with neurosurgeons and with gifted/disabled children. I would also love to use those same sciences to innovate strategies and systems that could improve the education system I'm so intrigued by," she said. Her public speaking skills and her love of travel could perhaps one day lead her to speaking on brain-mapping technology in seminars around the world.

Students interested in joining the team or learning more, should contact Director of Forensics Timothy Bill at timothy.bill@uky.edu.

The UK Forensics team’s next competition will be the Pi Kappa Delta National Tournament held March 16-20, at UK. 

Team members from UK won the following awards at the 2016 Kentucky Forensic Association state championship tournament:

After Dinner Speaking

4th Place – Abel Rodriguez III

Communication Analysis

6th Place – Megan Wagner

Drama Interpretation

3rd Place – Dianté Elcock

Duo Interpretation

4th Place – Rachel Brase and Megan Wagner

5th Place – Dianté Elcock and Kaylon Kennedy

6th Place – Logan Hurley and Megan Wagner

Editorial Impromptu Speaking

4th Place – Abel Rodriguez III

5th Place – Matt Karijolic

6th Place – Sam Northrup

Top Novice – Matt Karijolic

Extemporaneous Speaking

3rd Place – Abel Rodriguez III

Impromptu Speaking

Top Novice – Matt Karijolic

Informative Speaking

4th Place – Abel Rodriguez III

Top Novice – Matt Karijolic

Parliamentary Debate

1st Place – Rachel Brase and Kaylon Kennedy

2nd Place – Sam Northrup and Megan Wagner

Semifinalists – Logan Hurley and Abel Rodriguez III

Quarterfinalists – Matt Karijolic and Veronica Scott

1st Place Speaker – Rachel Brase

3rd Place Speaker – Veronica Scott

4th Place Speaker – Abel Rodriguez III

7th Place Speaker – Sam Northrup

Top Novice Speaker – Veronica Scott

Persuasive Speaking

1st Place – Veronica Scott

5th Place – Sam Northrup

Top Novice – Veronica Scott

Poetry Interpretation

4th Place – Abel Rodriguez III

Program Oral Interpretation

3rd Place – Kaylon Kennedy

5th Place – Dianté Elcock

Public Debate

Top Novice Speaker – Dianté Elcock

Radio Broadcasting

1st Place – Veronica Scott

2nd Place – Sam Northrup

4th Place – Matt Karijolic

5th Place – Dianté Elcock

Top Novice – Veronica Scott

UK is the University for Kentucky. At UK, we are educating more students, treating more patients with complex illnesses and conducting more research and service than at any time in our 150-year history. To read more about the UK story and how you can support continued investment in your university and the Commonwealth, go to: uky.edu/uk4ky. #uk4ky #seeblue

MEDIA CONTACT: Gail Hairston, 859-257-3302, gail.hairston@uky.edu