The Howard Payne University speech and debate team received the university’s first-ever national championship awards in individual events after competing in the National Christian College Forensics Association Invitational Championships. The competition was held at Cedarville University in Cedarville, Ohio, on March 5-7.
Freshman Charity Chambers was the most decorated novice speaker at the national tournament. She was the national champion in Informative Speaking and the first place Novice Parliamentary Debate Speaker. Chambers garnered the title of Individual Novice Sweepstakes Debate/Individual Events Champion. This award is the highest award any individual in the tournament can achieve. She is a triple major in the Douglas MacArthur Academy of Freedom, communication and political science from Wichita, Kansas.
Adam Hardy, a sophomore Academy and political science major from Corpus Christi, was named national champion in Open Division Program Oral Interpretation (POI). POI combines pieces from prose, poetry, or dramatic interpretation. Hardy’s piece was about life as a member of the Taliban.
In addition to their individual awards, the team of Chambers and Hardy were finalists in Dramatic Duo Interpretation and won fourth place overall.
“We are incredibly proud of both Charity and Adam. They have made HPU history by being the first students to win a national championship in an individual event. That is a huge accomplishment,” said Dr. Julie Welker, professor of communication and SSB coach.
In addition, freshman Jake Aschmutat, an Academy and political science major from Corpus Christi, won numerous awards. Aschmutat was a national finalist in three events. In individual events, he placed fourth in program oral interpretation and fourth in impromptu speaking. He was also named the third place overall novice parliamentary debate speaker, and won sixth place overall debate/IE sweepstakes.
“Jake has consistently competed well all year long, advancing to finals at every tournament. His ability to advance to finals in multiple events is proof that he is an outstanding speaker,” said Welker.
The parliamentary debate team of Chambers and Aschmutat advanced to the final round and were the second place team overall. The team won seven of eight rounds at the tournament, holding the best overall win-loss record in the tournament.
Also advancing to the finals was junior Walter Pam, a communication major from Killeen, Texas. Pam placed fifth overall in poetry interpretation.
Other students competing in the tournament were seniors Lauren Teel and Robert Davis, and junior Raquel Spencer.
The team is coached by Welker; Kim Bryant, associate professor of communication; and volunteer coach Elisha Nix, Assistant Brown County Attorney.
Welker added that Bryant and Nix are key to the team’s success.
“Ms. Nix has taken our debate team to a new level. Her expertise in the area of debate theory has been invaluable,” said Welker. “Mrs. Bryant is critical to our students’ success in their individual events.”
This year, 27 universities from across the nation participated in NCCFI. All schools are members of the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities. Over 200 students competed in the tournament. Welker was elected treasurer for the NCCFA organizational body for 2009-2011.
The team is planning a showcase to be held in April on the HPU campus, with the time and date to be announced later.
