TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The University of Alabama Forensic Council took first place in the Delta Sigma Rho-Tau Kappa Alpha National Forensic Honorary Tournament held March 15-17 at The University of Mississippi.
This is the second year in a row that the UA team has won the National Team Champion Award at this competition. Over the years, the UA Speech Team has won 16 national titles.
UA won the National Champion School Award with a total of 306 points, topping second-place University of Florida with 174 points and third-place University of Mississippi with 114 points. Other SEC schools in the competition included Louisiana State University and Florida State University.
Dr. Frank Thompson Jr., UA director of forensics, noted that “the success of the team is the result of a great deal of talent and a strong work ethic.”
UA students on the speech team took home many individual awards as well. Sonequa Martin of Russellville won four individual championships and placed in two other competitions. Other multiple winners were Blake Williams of Prattville, Jenny Wells of Birmingham (zip code 35216), Emily Hopper of Hartselle, Michelle Howard of Jefferson City, Mo., Aliah Summers of Birmingham (zip code 35213), Shalonda Capers of Pinson, Austin McDonald of Prattville, Chris Harding of Birmingham (zip code 35223) and Michael Bailey of Sheffield.
A complete list of winners from the UA team includes:
National Champion Pentathlon Award – Sonequa Martin
3rd Pentathlon Award – Blake Williams
5th Pentathlon Award – Jenny Wells
National Champion Informative Speaking – Jenny Wells
3rd Informative Speaking – Michelle Howard
4th Informative Speaking – Emily Hopper
6th Informative Speaking – Alyssa Reinecker of Calabasas, Calif.
National Champion Prose Interpretation – Sonequa Martin
3rd Prose Interpretation – Aliah Summers
4th Prose Interpretation – Shalonda Capers
5th Prose Interpretation – Austin McDonald
6th Prose Interpretation – Blake Williams
National Champion Persuasive Speaking – Emily Hopper
2nd Persuasive Speaking – Leann Neal of Eva
4th Persuasive Speaking – Chris Harding
National Champion Poetry Interpretation – Sonequa Martin
4th Poetry Interpretation – Blake Williams
5th Poetry Interpretation – Shalonda Capers
National Champion Dramatic Interpretation – Sonequa Martin
3rd Dramatic Interpretation – Jenny Wells
5th Dramatic Interpretation – Blake Williams
6th Dramatic Interpretation – Nick Fox of Summerdale
2nd Dramatic Duo Interpretation – Austin McDonald/Blake Williams
3rd Dramatic Duo Interpretation – Aliah Summers/Michael Bailey
4th Dramatic Duo Interpretation – Austin McDonald/Taylor Curtis of Tuscaloosa
5th Dramatic Duo Interpretation – Jenny Wells/Sonequa Martin
3rd Communication Analysis – Michelle Howard
3rd Program Oral Interpretation – Sonequa Martin
6th Program Oral Interpretation – Shalonda Capers
4th After Dinner Speaking – Chris Harding
5th After Dinner Speaking – Austin McDonald
6th After Dinner Speaking – Tim Gohn of Livermore, Calif.
Superior Speaker Student Congress – Michael Bailey
Excellent Speaker Student Congress – Alex Fowler of Traverse City, Mich.
National Student President – Michelle Howard
1st Vice President – Jenny Wells
Contact
Lauren Stricklin or Linda Hill, UA Public Relations, 205/348-8325, lhill@ur.ua.edu
Source
Dr. Frank M. Thompson Jr., director of forensics, department of communication studies, 205/348-8077, fthompso@ua.edu