WT Forensics Team Takes Fifth in Its Division at National Speech Tournament

Copy by Chip Chandler, 806-651-2124, [email protected]

CANYON, Texas - A West Texas A&M University team recently placed highly in a national speech contest, with one student advancing to the quarterfinals.

The WT Forensics Team placed fifth in the small schools division at the American Forensics Association National Speech Tournament, held in Portland, Oregon.

August Vinson, a senior history major from Amarillo, advanced to the quarterfinals in dramatic interpretation, which included the top 26 competitors in the country.

"What has impressed me the most as a coach as how well they collectively elevate their speeches to national tournament standards, holding their own in rounds with the best in the country," said Dr. Kelsey Abele, assistant professor of communication in the Department of Communication in the Sybil B. Harrington College of Fine Arts and Humanities. "Every member of the team qualified events they hadn't attempted before to nationals; things they didn't think they were capable of in September, now they're experts and fighting for first place. Going from learning an event to excelling in it is a steep learning curve and they managed it beautifully."

Also competing were Kyla Holt, a junior economics major from Borger; Ellie Lollar, a sophomore history major from Amarillo; and Izzy Lewis, a freshman mathematics major from Amarillo.

The students competed in a total of 14 events.

The tournament, held April 3 to 6, is a platform for speech education at the college level, bringing together students from across the nation to compete for national championships in multiple events.

The WT Forensics Team offers opportunities for students to exhibit outstanding abilities and accomplishments, one of the key principles of the University's long-range plan, WT 125: From the Panhandle to the World.

That plan is fueled by the One West comprehensive fundraising campaign, which raised more than $200 million dollars, the largest such campaign in Texas Panhandle history.

About West Texas A&M University

West Texas A&M University is a Regional Research University in Canyon, Texas, on a 342-acre residential campus, as well as the Harrington Academic Hall WTAMU Amarillo Center in downtown Amarillo. Established in 1910, the University has been part of The Texas A&M University System since 1990. WT boasts an enrollment of more than 9,000 and offers multiple options for students to graduate and succeed: 66 undergraduate degree programs, including eight associate degrees; and 44 graduate degrees, including an integrated bachelor's and master's degree, a specialist degree and two doctoral degrees. WT recently earned a Carnegie Foundation classification as a Research College and University. The Buffaloes are a member of the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference and offers 16 men's and women's athletics programs.

Photo: The West Texas A&M University Forensics Team placed fifth in the small schools division at the American Forensics Association National Speech Tournament. Pictured are, from left, Kyla Holt, August Vinson, Izzy Lewis and Dr. Kelsey Abele, coach.

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