The Hastings College Forensics team is the 18th best team in the nation after competing in the American Forensics Association-National Individual Events Tournament (AFA-NIET) at the University of Nebraska-Kearney, Apr. 1-3. The HC team competed against more than 125 competitors from colleges and universities, including the University of Texas-Austin, the University of Western Kentucky, Bradley University and more.

Hastings College is one of four Nebraska schools in the Top 20. Their performance was backed by 12 team members in 37 events, with four events reaching quarterfinals, two advancing to semifinals, and one advancing to finals.

Senior Curt Casper, Lexington, Neb., received Semifinalist in Persuasive Speaking. His speech is on survivors of suicides, advocating for support to family, friends and loved ones left behind after a suicide.

Junior Corey Reutlinger, Lexington, Neb., received 6th place in Program Oral Interpretation. His program focuses on the deaf culture, advocating for both the deaf culture and the hearing culture to recognize one another.

Junior Mike Dvorak, Muskogee, Okla., received Quarterfinalist in Extemporaneous Speaking and Persuasive Speaking. His speech is on cell phone security, advocating for cell phone companies to change security standards and for our society to be aware of our cell phones’ capabilities.

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 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 (402) 461-461-7385 or kgrace@hastings.edu.