UK Forensics Places Second at Kentucky State Tournament

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Feb. 25, 2016) — For the second year in a row, the University of Kentucky Forensics team has placed second in the Commonwealth at the Kentucky Forensic Association state championship tournament. This year’s event, hosted by Western Kentucky University, featured the best competitors from schools all across the state. UK placed second in combined sweepstakes thanks to a second place finish in the large school division of individual events competition and second in the large school division of debate competition. Western Kentucky University, the reigning national champions, placed first in all three categories.

UK Forensics also earned a number of other impressive distinctions at this tournament. Freshman competitor Veronica Scott was the tournament champion in persuasive speaking, which qualifies her to attend 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. Scott is the first student to ever qualify from UK. Senior Abel Rodriguez III placed fifth in the individual sweepstakes competition, which totals points from all of the competitors events. The team also qualified two more speeches for the National Forensic Association national tournament in April.

Each year, the Kentucky Forensic Association recognizes several exceptional students with Harlan Hamm awards for service and dedication to forensics. Harlan Hamm, a former coach in the Commonwealth, was known for his stewardship, leadership and passion for speech and debate competition and was a tireless advocate for the opportunities it affords students. Senior Abel Rodriguez III was recognized with one of four Harlan Hamm awards at this year’s state tournament for his passion and service as an undergraduate over the last four years.

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

The UK Forensics team’s next competition will be the Pi Kappa Delta National Tournament held March 16-20, 2016, at UK. Anyone interested in judging or attending this tournament should contact Director of Forensics Timothy Bill at timothy.bill@uky.edu. UK Forensics is a student organization in the School of Information Science. The team regularly competes in 12 different public speaking events in three forms of debate. To find out more, visit http://ukforensics.com.

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. #uky4ky #seeblue

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