The Hastings College Forensics (Speech and Debate) team was recognized as the overall champion in both debate and individual events and received five team championships at the Barton College tournament this past weekend. The team brought back 33 awards including six individual championships.

The team added three more qualifications for the American Forensics Association National Individual Events Tournament (AFA-NIET): sophomore Hannah Davis, Grand Island, Neb., qualified Dramatic Interpretation, sophomore Trevor Brass, Lincoln, Neb., qualified Impromptu Speaking and first-year Jared Buskirk, Holdrege, Neb., qualified After-Dinner Speaking, adding another championship to his resume. Senior Kelsi Potts, Cambridge, Neb., had championships in Communication Analysis and After-Dinner Speaking.

 Saturday, Nov. 6
Senior Kelsi Potts, Cambridge, Neb. 1st in Communication Analysis
  1st in After-Dinner Speaking
Junior Aaron Geringer, Wheatland, Wyo. 3rd in Persuasive Speaking
  2nd in Debate Sweepstakes
Sophomore Hannah Davis, Grand Island, Neb.  1st in Prose Interpretation
  2nd in Duo Interpretation (w/Cashoili)
  6th in Dramatic Interpretation
Sophomore Matt Cashoili, Hastings, Neb. 2nd in Duo Interpretation (w/Davis)
  3rd in Prose Interpretation
Sophomore Trevor Brass, Lincoln, Neb. 2nd in Impromptu Speaking
  3rd in Debate Sweepstakes
First-year Jared Buskirk, Holdrege, Neb. 4th in After-Dinner Speaking

The team took 3rd place in Team Sweepstakes and 1st place in Debate Sweepstakes.

Sunday, Nov. 7
Senior Kelsi Potts, Cambridge, Neb. 1st in Communication Analysis
  3rd in Prose Interpretation
Senior Kelsi Bradley, Fairfield, Neb. 5th in Program Oral Interpretation
Junior Sheila Hansen-Snell, North Platte, Neb. 1st in Program Oral Interpretation
Sophomore Hannah Davis, Grand Island, Neb. 2nd in Prose Interpretation
  3rd in Duo Interpretation (w/Cashoili)
  3rd in Dramatic Interpretation (Qualifying
  for Nationals)
Sophomore Matt Cashoili, Hastings, Neb. 2nd in Dramatic Interpretation
  3rd in Duo Interpretation (w/Davis)
  3rd in Individual Sweepstakes
Sophomore Trevor Brass, Lincoln, Neb. 6th in Informative Speaking
Sophomore Hannah Duke, Colorado Springs, Colo. 6th place in After-Dinner Speaking
  7th in Persuasive Speaking
First-year Jenny Linne, Bailey, Colo. 6th in Dramatic Interpretation
First-year Jose Jiminez, Lexington, Neb. 1st in Poetry Interpretation
First-year Jared Buskirk, Holdrege, Neb. 4th in After-Dinner Speaking (Qualifying
  for Nationals)

The team took 1st place in Team Sweepstakes on Sunday, 1st place in Individual Events for the weekend and 1st place overall.

The Bronco Forensics team has always seen national success at the American Forensics Association-National Individual Events Tournament (AFA-NIET). The team has been ranked in the Top 20 for 11 of the last 12 years and in the Top 15 for five of the last six years. The team has had 11 Individual Sweepstakes Award Winners since 1990.

Since 1998, 43 students have achieved a quarterfinal at the AFA-NIET, 21 students have advanced to semifinals, 13 students have placed in finals at nationals and four speeches have achieved championships. Six students have been named to the AFA-All American Team placing Hastings College third in the nation for number of students with this honor. The team is ranked as the number one undergraduate college for the last decade at the AFA-NIET (Sternhagen, 2010).

The AFA-NIET will be held at the University of Nebraska-Kearney on April 1-3, 2011.

Hastings College, founded in 1882, is a private, four-year liberal arts institution affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA). A total of 64 majors in 32 areas of study and 12 pre-professional programs are offered to more than 1,190 students. Hastings College was named among “America’s Best National Liberal Arts Colleges” by U.S. News & World Report, a “Best in the Midwest” by The Princeton Review, and a “Best Buy in College Education” by Barron’s. Visit www.hastings.edu for more information.

For more information, contact Kittie Grace at (402) 461-461-7385.