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