This Speech and Debate season the Florida Intercollegiate Forensics Association (Speech and Debate) embarked on an unprecedented venture. They hosted a two-part, two-weekend state championship. But UCF Speech and Debate was unfazed.
In debate, UCF advanced 11 of 13 competitors to elimination rounds, which requires a winning record. In those rounds, UCF claimed 3 of the 4 available state championships, including a lockout, where two UCF debaters or teams advanced to the final to be declared do-champions, in Parliamentary and Public debate. These students were:
- Jessica Siles (Senior): Public Debate
- Justin Sallahudin (Freshman): Lincoln Douglas
- Darren Roberts (Junior): Lincoln Douglas
- Team of Sam Schepps (Senior) & Mekaelia Morgan (Junior): Parliamentary
- Team of Niamh Harrop (Junior) & Madeline Magness (Freshman): Parliamentary
During the speech component, UCF had 26 finalists between the 11 events including 5 State Champions. These students were:
- Jordyn Collis: Programed Oral Interpretation
- Niamh Harrop (Junior): After Dinner Speaking
- Teresa Hudgens (Sophomore): Communication Analysis
- Jessica Siles (Senior): Informative Speaking
- Lexi Wajda (Fresman): Poetry Interpretation
As a team, UCF finished as state champions in individual events (speech), debate and overall team sweepstakes. It was the second time they won the individual events title, the sixth straight year they won debate and then the fourth time in 5 years they were named overall state champions.
But UCF Speech and Debate wasn’t done! Carrying that momentum forward UCF served as host to the 2022 Pi Kappa Delta (PKD) National Tournament and Convention March 9-12. Over 705 participants flocked to Orlando from 71 different institutions from across the country.
Student awards are classified by percentages. Top 10% receiving “Superior” and the next 20% receiving “Excellent” ratings. The debate portion also advanced the top 8 competitors to quarterfinals in each division.
UCF competed in two forms of debate, advancing students and receiving awards in International Public Debate.
In Varsity/Open IPDA Debate, senior debate captain Sam Schepps capped off his debate career with a 3-2 record receiving an Excellent award.
In Junior Varsity IPDA Debate 5 of UCF’s 6 competitors advanced to elimination rounds. Jessica Siles (Senior debate) and Niamh Harrop (Junior) successfully won their semi-final rounds and were declared Co-Champions. Other awards included:
- Mekaelia Morgan: Semi-Finalist
- Madeline Magness: Quarterfinalist
- Seth Nimbargi: Quarterfinalist
Not to be out done, the speech side of the team also excelled. Competing in 13 of the 20 possible events UCF received 8 awards.
- Jessica Siles (Senior): Superior in Extemp, Excellent in Impromptu
- Jordyn Collis (Sophomore): Superior in Extemp, Excellent in Persuasion, Interviewing & Discussion
- Niamh Harrop (Junior): Excellent in Impromptu
- Lexi Wajda (Freshman): Excellent in Impromptu
As a team, UCF left their mark as well receiving a superior rating (fourth place) in debate sweepstakes, which is the highest they have ever ranked. They were thirteenth in speech, which ties their highest mark and fifth in combined/overall sweepstakes.
Nicholson School Director Robert S. Littlefield, Ph.D., offered some words on the team’s success.
“I am very proud of how the UCF Speech and Debate Team has performed this year,” said Littlefield. “With a strong finish, and many members returning next year, I look forward to continued success for our program. Pi Kappa Delta has a philosophy that rewards educational and competitive aspects of the activity. Receiving a Superior Award as a comprehensive team has been our goal for some time. This performance at PKD will contribute to our increased visibility nationally as we attract students to compete for UCF and pursue their graduate degrees.”
In addition, UCF received the R. David Ray Outstanding Young Chapter Award for new schools in PKD, having just joined in 2017. Additionally, Director of Forensics Jonathan Conway was elected as an At-Large representative on the PKD Council. The Council Governs the activities of PKD and plans the next biennial convention and tournament to be held in Glendale, AZ in 2024.
For more information on the team, feel free to follow them on social media! @UCFspeechteam or @UCFdebate on facebook. @ucfforensics on twitter.
Published March 1, 2022 by Iulia Popescu.
If you have any news, accomplishments or highlights about your work or life, please be sure to share them with us, by emailing us at nicholsonews@ucf.edu.