TJC placed second in Overall Sweepstakes and second in Debate Sweepstakes in the Texas Intercollegiate Forensics Association State Tournament, held Nov. 3 and 4, at Del Mar College in Corpus Christi.
The two teams of Nick White/Cooper Ezell and Aaron Kelley/Alex Dickson advanced to semifinals in parliamentary debate.
All four of TJC’s parliamentary debaters won Top Speaker Awards: Dickson and White tied for second, Ezell won fifth, and Kelley won eighth.
In IPDA Debate, Dickson advanced to semifinals while freshmen Ezell and White both reached quarterfinals.
In individual events, TJC brought home the following honors:
• Aaron Kelley – Fifth in Informative Speaking, fifth in Extemporaneous Speaking and fourth in Impromptu Speaking
• Adaeze Uche – Fifth in Dramatic Interpretation and fourth in Novice Poetry
• Shaelyn Handy – Third in Prose Interpretation and Third in Novice Dramatic Interpretation
• Chris Flores – Second in Novice Poetry
• Matt Mooneyham – Fourth in Novice Dramatic Interpretation
In the Del Mar College Tournament, held Nov. 5, TJC achieved second place Sweepstakes in individual events and took the top three spots in Dramatic Interpretation: Nick White, first; Zach White, second; and Matt Mooneyham, third. Mooneyham also earned second place in prose interpretation.
In addition, Aaron Kelley placed third in Extemporaneous Speaking, fourth in Impromptu Speaking and third in Informative Speaking. Alex Dickson was sixth in Extemporaneous Speaking.
“I am so proud that the students are receiving accolades for their hard work,” said M’Liss Hindman, TJC speech professor and debate team director. “This is an extremely talented young team and we are looking forward to rest of the competitive season.”
For more on the TJC Speech & Debate team, go to www.tjc.edu/speech.