Jalen Drummond, a senior from Wedowee, Alabama, finished first nationally in informative speaking at the 41st American Forensics Association National Individual Events Tournament Championships in Colorado Springs, Colorado. More than 20 Alabama Forensic Council students competed in the AFA-NIET.
“Preparing to compete on the national stage is nothing short of intense,” said Drummond. “I spent hours perfecting my delivery, researching current events, and practicing with some of the most respected coaches in the nation. It is definitely grueling; however, the laborious preparation definitely pays off when you hear your name shouted as the national champion.”
Drummond’s topic focused on the 2014 shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, and an Obama Administration report that sheds light on details of that day. Drummond’s speech attempted to address and combat fake news and emphasized the need for truth in reporting.
The Alabama Forensic Council entered 24 students in 66 events and advanced nine students in 15 events to quarter-finals, five students in six events to semi-finals, and three students to four events in the final round of competition. AFC finished in fifth place out of 63 competing schools for the second year in a row.
“The fifth-place finish of the AFC at this year’s National Speech tournament is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the students and staff,” said Bobby Imbody, director of forensics. “All of the students did the hard work required to be great, and it shows. More importantly, our students tackled hard topics and spoke truth to any and all audiences in an effort to make their world a better place more than any year before.”
The AFA-NIET is the most competitive national forensics tournament in the nation with the most rigorous qualification process of any intercollegiate forensic tournament.
Here is a full list of student winners.
Pearce Barringer, junior, Montgomery
Quarter Finals Extemporaneous Speaking
Emma Capitanelli, first year, Collierville, TN
Sixth Place Persuasive Speaking
Jalen Drummond, senior, Wedowee
National Champion Informative Speaking
Third Place Communication Analysis
Brittany Grady, senior, Birmingham
Quarter Finals Impromptu Speaking
Isaiah McDermott, first year, Morristown, TN
Quarter Finals Program Oral Interpretation
Danielle Pacia, junior, Morristown, TN
Semi Finals Program Oral Interpretation
Quarter Finals Informative Speaking
Quarter Finals Persuasive Speaking
Alexis Simmons, junior, Montgomery
Semi Finals Poetry Interpretation
Quarter Finals Prose Interpretation
Quarter Finals Dramatic Interpretation
McLean Stewart ,junior, Montgomery
Sixth Place Extemporaneous Speaking
Quarter Finals Impromptu Speaking
Ed White, junior, Montgomery
Quarter Finals Communication Analysis