Woodring and Lux will still occupy the same offices in the Garrett Conference Center, but they’ll be in new positions. After two decades of directing WKU’s award-winning speech and debate programs, Woodring is retiring as director. Lux, who has been associate director for the past three years, is taking over as director.

“I’m incredibly happy that Jace is going to stay here and take over this program,” Woodring said. “He’s the ideal person. It takes a special person to work with coaches and students and he’s that special person.”

Lux, a native of Evansville, Ind., was a member of WKU’s Forensic Team from 1998 to 2000 and was a team coach for six years before becoming associate director. “Judy has done everything she can to make sure I’m prepared for this role,” he said. “You don’t often get the chance to work with the person who is the best in the world at their position, but I’ve done that for the past nine years. I’ve learned from the best.”

The National Forensic League recently honored Woodring with the Brother Gregory “Rene” Sterner Alumni Lifetime Service Award at the NFL National Tournament Awards Assembly in Kansas City, Mo. Woodring received the award for her decades-long commitment to speech and debate at both the high school and college levels. The award was presented by one of her standout alumni, recording artist and daytime television star Kassie DePaiva.

“I was truly surprised,” Woodring said of the award. “I was very honored.”

“This award is yet another recognition of Mrs. Woodring’s exceptional leadership in building and advancing forensics program opportunities for students,” WKU Provost Barbara Burch said. “She is widely recognized for her talent, dedication and exceptional achievements in building the forensics program at WKU, and this award affirms the impact of her influence and leadership nationally as well.”

President Gary Ransdell agrees. “Judy Woodring has, as much anyone at WKU, helped us understand that WKU can indeed become a leading American university,” he said. “She has taken a good forensics program and turned it into the best in American higher education.”

Woodring, a 1965 WKU graduate, taught speech and debate at Webster County Union County high schools before returning to the Hill in 1988 as director of the Kentucky High School Speech League then becoming director of the forensic program in 1989.

In the past two decades, the program has built a tradition of state, national and international championships.

Read the Full Story at the WKU News Blog

Earning School of Excellence awards for holistic squad performance were Sidney Lanier Middle School (Houston, TX), Northwest Junior High School (Coralville, IA) and Clay Middle School (Carmel, IN). Earning School of Excellence awards for performance in debate were Sidney Lanier Middle School, Capitol Debate (Woodstock, MD), Kugnus ACTS (Closter, NJ), The Harker School (San Jose, CA), and The Kincaid School (Houston, TX). Earning School of Excellence awards for performance in speech events were Sidney Lanier Middle School, Ockerman Middle School (Florence, KY), The Pike School (Andover, MA), Milton Academy (Milton, MA), and Rowan County MS (Morehead, KY).

Champion students in each of the events included:
Policy Debate: Devansh Srivastura and Michael Koo, Capitol Debate, MD
Congressional Debate: Peter Oathout, Sidney Lanier MS, TX
Lincoln Douglas Debate: Naomi Whitney-Hirschmann, St. Louis Park, MN
Public Forum (Co-Champions): Ardash Battu, Arjun Kumar, Claudia Tischler, Shilpa Yarlgadda, The Harker School, CA
Prose: Claire Russell, Milton Academy MS, MA
Poetry: Bridget Kim, Rowan County MS, KY
Humorous Interpretation: Scott Diekema, Northwest Junior HS, IA
Dramatic Interpretation: Caroline Ford, Sky Academy, KY
Impromptu: Sarah Muse, Milton Academy MS, MA
Extemporaneous Speaking: Gregory Ross, Sidney Lanier
Original Oratory: Caroline Ford, Sky Academy, KY
Duo Interpretation: Bobby Turnbough & Nicole Hickok, Raymore-Peculiar MS, MO
Declamation: Willow Curry, Sidney Lanier MS, TX

Click here for a full results packet. Next year’s tournament will be held in Dallas, Texas. Stay tuned for more information on dates and specific details.

The tournament received generous assistance from Brent Hinkle of The Joy of Tournaments registration and tab room management software.

The NJFL was founded by the National Forensic League in 1995 to extend speech and debate opportunities to students in grades 6-8. Upon enrollment at an NFL member high school, students can convert a fraction of junior merit points earned for speaking activities to high school points toward advanced levels of NFL membership. This creates a great feeder program for high schools, and motivation for students to participate more.

IDEA was established in 1999 to promote mutual understanding and democracy globally by supporting discussion and active citizenship locally. Central to IDEA’s values are tolerance, international cooperation, and freedom of expression. This tournament instills and nurtures in younger students an appreciation for divergent viewpoints and diverse cultures.

Kris Kracht isn’t a sports guy, but he’s made a habit of describing his life’s work in sports terms.

Kracht coaches the speech team at Gustavus Adolphus College, a private liberal arts school in Minnesota with a former football coach as president. And that president likes it when he can say Gustavus is No. 10 in the nation, just like a Division I football team.

Kracht explains speech recruiting in the terms of football recruiting, and he does it in similar ways as well — calling students he’s interested in, showing up at their tournaments and, most recently, attending the National Forensic League’s national tournament in Kansas City.

Kracht’s parallels between forensics and sports ring true.  At the nation’s most competitive collegiate programs, forensics can take up a large portion of a student’s time.  Many colleges value their forensics programs as hallmarks of student academic and competitive achievement.  While there are many high school coaches who would discourage continued participation in college forensics, I think it is certainly an avenue that more high school competitors should explore.  Membership in the American Forensic Association and National Forensic Association are growing.  You can check out the results from the 2010 NFA National Tournament, which highlights colleges and universities with successful programs.

Read the Full Article

The 2011 National Forensic League National Tournament (Web site) and the 2011 National Junior Forensic League National Tournament (Web site) will be held in Dallas, TX in June of 2011.  By the great start in place, it looks like things are going to be a blast.  What’s particularly interesting is that the NFL and NJFL Tournament will run parallel for the first time.

NFL Nationals: June 13-18
NJFL Nationals: June 16-18

The competition for all events, as well as the awards, will take place at one venue: The Dallas Sheraton (www.sheratondallashotel.com)  Consider this concept for a moment: one venue.  If your mind is not yet blown, click past the jump for a video produced by the host committee.

SpeechGeek Staff Report

This season, all eyes are on the fashion hubs of the world. Tokyo. Paris. New York. Kansas City. The city known for its smooth music and smoky barbecue is playing host to the most well-dressed group of people under the age of 18 in the nation this week. Nowhere is the couture more haute and the threads more avant-garde than in the rounds of Duo Interpretation. Great minds may think alike, but great performers dress to impress.

What is it about this event that makes dressing complimentary draw so many compliments? Perhaps it is the appearance of coordination and unity that inspires so many partners to color coordinate. Before competitors utter their first lines and the first ‘swish’ of shoes popping in character takes place, the first thing judges and audience members notice are the partners’ appearances. After spending nine months working on blocking and character development ensuring that every gesture and emotion is in sync, coordinating tournament attire adds the final touch of polish to the overall effect. Much in the same way that sports teams wear matching uniforms, complimentary Duo partner attire shows that both individuals are focused on creating a unified, seamless performance. The last thing anyone wants is for a judge to be distracted by your hot pink and olive green suits.

Click through the slide show to see a sampling of some of this week’s most colorful (and coordinated) Duo partners.

Keep reading to access the final results.

Below you’ll find the names of the National Finalists.  We’ll update these sections with ranks and final round winners as they happen.  You will need to refresh this page.

NFL Alumni Lifetime Achievement Award

Nadine Strossen (Former National ACLU President)

Bro. Renee Sterner Alumni Lifetime Service Award

Judy Woodring (Director of Forensics at Western Kentucky University)

Schools of Excellence

Debate
Bellaire High School (Texas)
Brophy College Prep (Arizona)
Perry Creek High School (Colorado)
Damian High School (California)
Delbarton High School (New Jersey)
Desert Vista High School (Arizona)
Eagan High School (Minnesota)
Ft. Lauderdale High School (Florida)
George Washington High School (Colorado)
Ladue High School (Missouri)
Lelan High School (California)
Monte Vista High School (California)
Park Hills South High School (Missouri)
Park View High School (Missouri)
University School (Ohio)
Walt Whitman High School (Maryland)
Winston Churchill High School (Texas)

Speech
Bellarmine College Prep (California)
Cardinal Mooney High School (Ohio)
Eagan High School (Minnesota)
Holy Ghost Prep High School (Pennsylvania)
James Logan High School (California)
Blakedale North High School (Minnesota)
Nova High School (Florida)
Plymouth High School (Indiana)
Roseville Area High School (Minnesota)
Sioux Falls–Lincoln (South Dakota)

Combined
Eagan High School (Minnesota)
Cardinal Mooney High School (Ohio)

Pi Kappa Delta–Bruno E. Jacob Founder’s Trophy

Neosho High School (Missouri)

Bruno E. Jacob Commendation

David Watkins, Neosho High School (Coaches are honored if 50% of the rounds are accumulated under a coach)

Albert S. Odom Commendation

David Watkins, Neosho High School (Given to the current Director of Forensics at the Jacob-winning school)

Gustavus Adolphus College NFL National Student of the Year

Finalists

Zach Beattie (Heart of America District)
Sonia Chokshi (Florida Sunshine District)
John W. Ford (Gulf Coast, Texas District)
Jane Kessear (Chesapeake, Maryland District)
Todd Wells (West Kansas District)
Cory Williams (Mississippi District)

Winner

Cory Williams (Hattiesburg High School, Mississippi District)

Storytelling

6.  Erica Bridge
5.  Yusef Ungamidi
4.  Jody Carki
3.  Tosh Alexander Hall
2.  Dana Masters

National Champion:  Zachary Cantic (Brookings East High School)

Impromptu

6.  Cat Hilbert
5.  Nicky Sekdavah
4.  Sophina McLay
3.  Mitchell Madra
2.  Nicholas Hall

National Champion:  Adam Conner  (Loyola Blakefield High School)

Prose

6.  Robert Jackson
5.  Michael Mosella
4.  Zachary Einstein
3.  Jon Reynolds
2.  Jahari Mackey

National Champion:  Nat Zeigree (Portage Northern High School)

Poetry

6.  James Videl
5.  Andrea Platt
4.  Malcolm Minor
3.  Taylor Walker
2.  Durrell Jameson

National Champion: A. J. Talluah (Blue Springs High School)

Expository Speaking

6.  Alexandria Deliva
5.  Emily Huxmann
4.   Alexandria Y. Diaz
3.  Lindsey Elizabeth Olsen
2.  Tim Borren

National Champion:  Karen Zhou (Lakeville North High School)

Extemp Commentary

6.  Trevor Griffin
5.  Davis L. Maddock
4.  Louis Lee
3.  Nathaniel Haas
2.   Eli Bernstein

National Champion:  Rohan Palli (Ridge High School)

Supplemental Debate

5.  Chris Watkins
5.  Dana Leeb
5.  Carl Bennecoff-Junct
3.  Brittney Marie Donaland
3.  Patrick Wilkey
2.  Erin Morris

National Champion:  Tejas Pradhi  (Regis High School)

Public Forum Debate

6.  Pickett/Peters
5.  Rao/
4.  Kelsey/Sallers
3.  Wilson/Strang
2.  Majeune/Marsden

National Champions:    Michael P. Domino and Bardia R. Rahmani (University School)

Congressional Debate — Senate

6.  Florence Chen
5.  Danneile Davis
4.  Adam F Potrzebowski
3.  Rylan Schaeffer
2.  Anna Tsiotsias

National Champion: Benjamin J Tyler (Presiding Officer)

Senate Leadership Bowl: Benjamin J Tyler

Congressional Debate  – House

Stephen Kui (Presiding Officer)

6.  Joseph Puma
5.   Evan Ribot
4.  Frances Rodriguez
3.  Erik Bakke
2.   Sebastian DeLuca

National Champion:  Louise Lu (Bellaire High School)

House Leadership Bowl Winner: Sebastian DeLuca

Policy Debate — Top Speakers

5.  Drew Scott-Bonnett
4.  Richard Day
3.  Caitlyn Morrie
2.   Laura Johnson

Top Speaker:  Max Burnbaum

Policy Debate

6.  Will Tebow and Richard Day
5.  Sharon Khan and Tracey Cook
4.  Will Miller and Andrew Carmel
3.  Venay Sridharan and Alexis Shklar
2.  Mario Fiola and Andrew Arch

National Champions:  Misael Gonzales and Kevin Hern (Whitney Young Magnet HS) 5-4 Decision for the Negative

Lincoln-Douglas Debate

6.  Anna Lyons
5.   Salman Hussein
4.   Ted Elsworth
3.  Eric Keith Legree
2.   M. Blake McCracken

National Champion:  Benjamin Sprung-Kaiser (Harvard Westlake School) 9-2 Decision for the Negative

United States Extemp

6.  Meera Sury
5.  Haley Wheat
4.  Alexis Elliott
3.  Oscar Wang
2.  Dylan Slinger

National Champion:  Tyler D Fabbri (Chesterton High School)

President’s Bowl:  Dylan Slinger (Lakeview South High School)

International Extemp

6.  Sesenu Woldemariam
5.  Jonathan A Lewallen
4.  Steven Elliott
3.  Rohan Bhargava
2.  James Mohan

National Champion:  Jacob F Baker (Bellarmine College Prep)

Mehta Bowl:  Jacob F Baker (Bellarmine College Prep)

Original Oratory

6.  Joe Nelson
5.  Chris Moncrief
4.  Alphonce Mshomba
3.  Amy Shackleford
2.  Miles Bridges

National Champion:  Vinay Nayak  (Hensdale Central High School)

President’s Bowl:  Miles Bridges (James Logan High School)

Humorous Interp

6.  Harris Alterman
5.  Andrew Langdon
4.  Adam DeGonda
3.  Tyler Rife
2.  Zade Shakir

National Champion:  Lindsey White  (Eastview High School)

Bama Bowl:  Lindsey White (Eastview High School)

Dramatic Interpretation

6.  Cory Williams
5.  Jedidiah Duarte
4.  Bryan Porter
3.  Michael Dahlgren
2.  Sarah Brazier

National Champion:  Michael Carone  (Monsignor Farrell High School)

Bama Bowl:  Michael Dahlgren (Holy Ghost Prep)

Duo Interpretation

6.  EVANS/STOPFER
5.  WILLIAMS/POUGH
4.  SULAM/PHILLIPS
3.  SCHMITTO/ROCERO
2.  GEOGHAN/MARCEL

National Champions:  Austin Groves and Darius Wilson (Blue Springs High School)

Bama Bowl:  Austin Groves and Darius Wilson (Blue Springs High School)

Blogging the Supplemental Events may prove a bit more tricky than the Main Events, as information has been a bit more hard to come by.  We apologize for any misspellings of names and welcome corrections from our readers.

Topic Area: The United States of Anger and Demonization

Speaker 1 — Louis Lee
Topic: “Demagogues unite.  Democracy needs you.”
Talk show hosts have a substantial effect on discourse in America.  Democracy needs unity among the groups.
1.  They deter Americans from participating in the political process.
2.  They convey information to Americans, albeit in a biased way.  They are useful as a means to share information.

Speaker 2 — Eli Bernstein
Topic: “Just say no.  Always, no.”
Debate has come to an end.  Taking away the power of debate diminishes the power of the USA.
1.  How Republicans have transitioned further to the during Obama Administration.  Shouting down the opposition and the filibuster are the key tools for accomplishing their “no.”
2.  How this affects Average Joe voters by turning them off from voting.  Americans are quickly losing trust in both political parties.

Speaker 3 — Rohan Pi
Topic:  ”Don’t tax me, Bro.”
Ultimately, we have to acknowledge that taxes are the down-payments we make for an advanced society. The lifestyle we enjoy is not possible without taxes.
1.  They maintain the goods, services and entitlements we enjoy as a society.
2.  We are in debt to the idea of prosperity by utilizing increased taxes to bring down the deficit and provide a better future.  This can be accomplished through reduced spending and higher taxes.

Speaker 4 — Nathaniel Hass
Topic: “Glenn and Rush: Ranting all the way to the bank.”
There are voices that are willing to make offensive, harmful arguments in public that are based on cultural stereotypes.
1.  What these people say, which is just plain wrong.
2.  Why are there people who say this, and who in the world is employing them?
3.  These people are paid to say such racist, terrible and untrue things.

Speaker 5 — Davis Mattick
Topic: “Nattering Nebobs (sp?) of Negativism”
We’ve become a negative culture.  (As negative as Harry Potter in the fifth novel.)  Giving up on an idea before it’s given time is unfair.
1.  Americans, in general, have a fatalistic attitude.
2.  We’ve given up on the future; however, there’s no reason to maintain that negativity.

Speaker 6 — Trevor Griffin
Topic: “Internet Flamethrowers”
We forget that what we do on the internet and social networking websites is a metaphorical flame-thrower that can have serious ramifications.
1.  Social such as Facebook and other social media.
2.  The political napalm thrown via the traditional media (FOX, NBC, etc.)
3.  Solutions for political and social flame-throwing and their extremities.

It’s going to be a hectic 16 minutes.

The event began on Wednesday morning with a record 560 entries. That’s a record across the entire tournament.

The topic for the final round is “This House believes that Barack Obama is succeeding in ensuring the future prosperity of the United States.”

Affirmative: 451 — Erin Morris (Kickapoo HS, MO)

Negative: 741 —  Tejas Perdiv (Regis HS, NJ)

Author’s Note: The following statements represent the claims of the speakers to the best of my ability and should not be read as personal commentary on the round.

Proposition Constructive (2 min)

Education initiatives spur potential for future prosperity.  Key incentives are adding the opportunity for education and innovation through a better workforce.

Financial reform will stabilize the economy as well.  Regulation is needed, and is a key initiative of Obama.  TARP is used as the prime example with banks paying back funds and being held accountable.  Stabilizing one part of the economy has created a positive domino effect through free-market system.

CX of Proposition (1 min)

Q: Is there a difference between ensuring and net progress?
Q: How should we weigh today’s round?
Q: If your contentions are not long lasting, is that a vote for the Neg?

Opposition Constructive (2 min)

Clarification: the resolutions says that “ensuring future prosperity.”  Aff can give

1.  Idea of National Security.  Obama has not ensured this because fails to address corruption in Afghanistan, ethnic conflicts, and Taliban movement into Pakistan.  The risks still exist.  Increasing Anti-American Sentiment. More movement in Middle East means greater risk.

2.  Engergy Crisis.  While investing in some green tech, he is not making substantial progress to moving away from oil.

3.  Environment. His actions with BP and global warming have been minimal.  Moreover, he has little political capital to pass substantial legislation.

CX of Opposition (1 min)

Q:  What about the recent stimulus package for green energy?
Q:  We should live in an impractical world where we don’t use oil?
Q:  Does it have to happen immediately?
Q:  What is your standard of ensuring prosperity in general?

Mandatory Prep Time (1 min)

Proposition Rebuttal (2 min)

1.  Energy Crisis.  Neg fails to ignore economics stimulus for solar, wind and algae in addition to other green jobs.  We are creating energy independence while creating new and more jobs, underscoring the need for innovation.  Technology is not only becoming better but also creating small biz opportunities.

2.  Foreign Affairs.  Ignores current efforts to combat cocaine and opium trades in Columbia and Afghanistan.

3.  Financial Reform is Key.  Because we have such a connected free-market system, that money will be invested and stabilize other industries.  We help the American people.  We help foreign relations.  We ensure future prosperity.

Opposition Rebuttal (2 min)

Affirmative has to prove solvency.  The Aff has to show it’s actually doing something.

Education. The problem with education funding is that high school dropouts are increasing and we’re dwindling in the international pack.  No politician is going to pass something without good intentions but nothing is happening and no prosperity is ensured.

Financial Reform.  The economy is based on cycles.  You cannot prove causation based on ebb.  Deficit levels are at the highest ever.

All Aff points are speculative.  Until she proves what they are doing and how they are long term.

Moreover, Aff drops international sentiment against US.

Mandatory Prep Time (1 min)

Proposition Rebuttal (2 min)

Obama has been in office for 1.5 years.  That’s not enough time to prove long term is going to work out.  We must look at the prospect not empirical evidence because the future hasn’t happened yet.

Says Neg drops foreign relations and drug trade argument.

Says TARP prop falls but holds to line that Obama was vital in keeping economic recovery on track.

Key voter comes down to innovation and future prospects for improved economic and social prosperity, better jobs, and innovation.  Obama is indicating signs of success and future prosperity.

Opposition Rebuttal (2 min)

Aff drops the need for solvency by saying that Obama is new on the job.  The crux is that it’s not doing anything.  That’s all we can evaluate in the round.

Education was nullified and later dropped by the Prop.

Says our efforts are doing more harm than good because of the substantial risks inherent in what they do.  Everything Obama is doing is having negative effects, devaluting of the dollar and inflation, etc.

The green movement isn’t doing anything yet and he doesn’t have the political capital for a full-on energy use shift.

Were you busy watching the World Cup or the NBA Finals last night and missed out on the interp final rounds at the 2010 NFL National Tournament?  No need to worry, as the NFL LiveStream channel allows you to go back and watch the full festivities.  I wouldn’t expect them to be up forever.  If you don’t want to wait for your team’s DVD to arrive this fall, you may want to go ahead and check them out.