Kayla Williams of Neosho was named top speaker in parliamentary debate besting over 50 competitors and Kate Knight of Neosho was named a top speaker ousting 15 competitors at the 2015 Novice National Championships, a nationwide competition reserved for speech and debate competitors in their first year of college. Competition included teams from Ithaca College, Ball State University and the University of West Florida.
As a team, Crowder College was named the Division II Sweepstakes Champions, outscoring all colleges and universities with under 10 competitors. Helping the team gain this recognition Williams and Tom Younker of Monett ended the tournament as quarter finalists in a Lincoln Douglas debate.
Crowder had three students advance in individual events to the national semifinal round of impromptu sales. They were Miranda Johnson of Neosho, Kyler Bard of Seneca, and Dirk Deaton of McDonald County). Both Bard and Deaton advanced to the final round, earning 2nd and 3rd place respectively. Other students competing for the team included Shelby Musgrave of Seneca and Elizabeth Sanders of Webb City.
"Winning both of the top speaker awards at novice nationals is by definition 'surreal,'" stated Jason Edgar, Crowder's director of debate. As champions, Edgar considered the recognition "truly special for the students because it awards all their effort as a team over the entire year."
Competition will resume again in the fall. For more information about enrolling in Crowder and joining the team send an e-mail to Edgar here.
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