The Hastings College Speech team continues its winning ways, picking up a third place trophy at the Oklahoma University Sweetheart swing this past weekend. The team faced unique and high quality competition, including the second ranked team in the country, Western Kentucky.

The Broncos picked up a total of 27 awards and two overall championships. Senior Kelsi Potts, Cambridge, Neb., is now headed to nationals, qualifying her first event in Communication Analysis. The team now has 23 events qualified for the AFA-NIET. This week the team will be hosting the Nebraska Interstate Forensics Association (NIFA) State Competition on the Hastings College Campus, Feb. 18-19. Stop by to see the Broncos continue their success.

Saturday, February 12
Senior Kelsi Potts, Cambridge, Neb. 2nd in Prose Interpretation
 4th in Communication Analysis

Senior Curt Casper, Lexington, Neb. 3rd in Extemporaneous Speaking

Junior Mike Dvorak, Muskogee, Okla. 1st in Communication Analysis
 4th in Informative Speaking

Junior Sheila Hansen Snell, North Platte, Neb. 2nd in Poetry Interpretation

Junior Aaron Geringer, Wheatland, Wyo. 6th in Extemporaneous Speaking

Sophomore Matt Cashoili, Hastings, Neb. 5th in Poetry Interpretation

Sophomore Trevor Brass, Lincoln, Neb. 6th in After-Dinner Speaking
 Next-out* in Informative Speaking

Sophomore Hannah Davis, Grand Island, Neb. 7th in Program Oral Interpretation
 Next-out* in After-Dinner Speaking

First-year Jose Jimenez, Lexington, Neb. 3rd in Prose Interpretation

First-year Jenny Linne, Bailey, Colo. 6th in Program Oral Interpretation

* = the award given to the first person who didn't break into the final

Sunday, February 13
Senior Curt Casper, Lexington, Neb. Next-out* in Dramatic Interpretation

Junior Sheila Hansen Snell, North Platte, Neb. 2nd in Poetry Interpretation
 6th in Prose Interpretation

Junior Mike Dvorak, Muskogee, Okla. Next-out* in Communication Analysis

Junior Aaron Geringer, Wheatland, Wyo. Next-out* in Poetry Interpretation

Sophomore Hannah Duke, Colorado Springs, Colo. 1st in After-Dinner Speaking

Sophomore Matt Cashoili, Hastings, Neb. 3rd in Poetry Interpretation

Sophomore Trevor Brass, Lincoln, Neb. 4th in Informative Speaking
 Next-out* in Persuasive Speaking

First-year Jenny Linne, Bailey, Colo. 4th in Poetry Interpretation

First-year Jose Jimenez, Lexington, Neb. 5th in Dramatic Interpretation

* = the award given to the first person who didn't break into the final

The team took 3rd place in Team Sweepstakes, and 3rd overall in Team Sweepstakes.

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.