The Hastings College Forensics Team has qualified a total of 38 events for the American Forensics Association-National Individual Events Tournament (AFA-NIET) to be held at the University of Nebraska-Kearney, April 2-4. The team has ranked in the Top 20 for 11 of the last 12 years and in the Top 15 for five of the last six years.

HC students who will be competing are listed below, followed by their hometowns and qualified events.
 
Senior Curt Casper, Lexington, Neb., (5): Persuasive Speaking, Informative Speaking, Communication Analysis, Dramatic Interpretation and Extemporaneous Speaking

Senior Kelsi Potts, Cambridge, Neb., (2): After-Dinner Speaking and Communication Analysis

Junior Mike Dvorak, Muskogee, Okla., (6): Extemporaneous Speaking, After-Dinner Speaking, Impromptu Speaking, Informative Speaking, Communication Analysis, and Persuasive Speaking

Junior Corey Reutlinger, Lexington, Neb., (6): Informative Speaking, Program Oral Interpretation, Persuasive Speaking, Communication Analysis, Prose Interpretation, and Poetry

Junior Aaron Geringer, Wheatland, Wyo., (2): Persuasive Speaking and Poetry

Junior Sheila Hansen Snell, North Platte, Neb., (1): Poetry

Sophomore Hannah Davis, Grand Island, Neb., (4): Prose Interpretation, Program Oral Interpretation, Duo Interpretation (w/Cashoili), and Dramatic Interpretation

Sophomore Matt Cashoili, Hastings, Neb., (2): Duo Interpretation (w/Davis), and Dramatic Interpretation

Sophomore Trevor Brass, Lincoln, Neb., (1): Impromptu Speaking

Sophomore Hannah Duke, Colorado Springs, Colo., (1): After-Dinner Speaking

First-year Jared Buskirk, Holdrege, Neb., (4): Impromptu Speaking, Prose Interpretation, Extemporaneous Speaking, and After-Dinner Speaking

First-year Jose Jimenez, Lexington, Neb., (3): Program Oral Interpretation, Dramatic Interpretation and Poetry

First-year Jenny Linne, Bailey, Colo., (1): Dramatic Interpretation

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).

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 kgrace@hastings.edu.