Speech Team heads to national tourney in Georgia
March 30, 2007
KOKOMO, Ind.—Sandi Giver of Peru is ready to compete—although she’ll have to travel almost 600 miles from central Indiana before she learns exactly what the competition involves.
Giver is one of six Indiana University Kokomo students who’ll face off with other collegiate orators in the 2007 National Forensics Association Tournament at Berry College in Rome, Ga., on April 19–23. A 2003 graduate of Peru High School now majoring in social and behavioral sciences at IU Kokomo, Giver will participate in the tourney’s Impromptu Speaking rounds.
Each Impromptu contestant receives a quotation and is given two minutes to prepare a five-minute explanatory speech based on the statement, Giver said. “I enjoy the rush of going into that situation and having no clue what exactly to expect. Impromptu takes quick thinking, good structure, and a witty response—all of which I have grown in over the last couple of years since joining Speech and Debate.”
Other IU Kokomo Speech and Debate Team members participating in the national tournament include
Chad Andrews, an English major from Sharpsville, competing in Impromptu Speaking, Extemporaneous Speaking, and Prose Interpretation
Andrea Davis, a communication arts major from Logansport, competing in Poetry Interpretation, Prose Interpretation, and Duo Acting
Gwen Jones, a psychology major from Kokomo, competing in Duo Acting (with Andrea Davis) and Original Shakespeare
David Sims, history/political science major from Logansport, competing in Impromptu Speaking and Extemporaneous Speaking
Lee Yoder, a student in University Division from Geneva, competing in Impromptu Speaking and Extemporaneous Speaking
The team competed in seven regional intercollegiate competitions this academic year. In that time, Coach Jaime Hamilton said, she’s seen “major improvements” in the students’ abilities to organize impromptu and extemporaneous speeches with limited preparation time. “I have also found improvement in the versatility of the students. Those who are doing interpretation events are willing to try their hand at limited preparation and platform speaking,” she said. “This makes us a much stronger squad as we are able to enter a variety of different events in one tournament.”
For more information about the IU Kokomo Speech and Debate Team, contact Jaime Hamilton at (765) 455-9558. To learn more about the communication arts and new media communications degree programs at IU Kokomo, visit www.iuk.edu/humanities or call (765) 455-9248.
