UMHB to Host National Championship for Speech and Debate

06/07/07

School may be out for the summer, but this June 11th through the 15th Belton will be packed with high school students from around the nation vying to go home a champion. The National Christian Forensics and Communication association (NCFCA) is holding their national championship at UMHB which is expected to draw over 2000 people from around the country.

The tournament will have both Team Policy and Lincoln Douglas debate as well as over ten different speech events. "Humorous interpretation is one of our most popular events for audiences," Mike Larimer president of NCFCA said, "but other events such as expository and persuasive can draw good sized audiences as well." Tournament officials say that rounds will be open to the public and will be starting at intervals throughout each day of competition.

UMHB is eager to host a national level tournament. "This tournament will be a great opportunity for UMHB to gain some national recognition," Kathy Owens communications professor at UMHB said, "and I hope to use this as an opportunity to recruit students for our speech and debate program."

Tournament coordinators do have some concerns about hosting the championship in Belton. "Our biggest need for this tournament is local area judges," Dr. Roger Smith NCFCA Community Judge Liaison said, "We knew coming in that Belton is a small town and that it would be difficult to find the over a thousand local judges we need to make the tournament work. We are recruiting people as actively as we can from all walks of life to come and invest in our students."

NCFCA has opened an invitation to Belton area residents to come and judge. "NCFCA provides an orientation for community judges but we have found that most people have been evaluating public speaking all their lives," Smith said, "all they need to learn are a few tournament rules and they can provide excellent feedback. Most people already know what they like and who they don't like." For more information about the tournament, or to register to judge, visit www.NCFCA.org.