AFA All the Way

Last week the team returned home from the trip to Kearney, Nebraska for the American Forensics Association National Individual Events Tournament. We are happy to report that Andrea Durham and Terra Strong did an excellent job representing Tennessee State University at this highly competitive National Championship. Although the two of them only had 7 of the 1,524 event slots at the tournament, they earned 87.5 points for TSU - breaking down to an earned 12.5 points per event! Also, these points placed TSU 21st in Team Sweepstakes out of the 84 schools attending. Here's a full list of individual events won:

- Second Place, Program of Oral Interpretation - Terra Strong

- Third Place, Poetry Interpretation - Terra Strong

- Sixth Place, Dramatic Interpretation - Terra Strong

- Semi-Finalist, Dramatic Interpretation - Andrea Durham

The full results from the tournament can be viewed/downloaded here. We are so proud of Terra and Andrea for their three finals and one semi-final - this is a really impressive finish for any team, especially one with only two students! Also, we should mention that the AFA-NIET committee and the folks at the University of Nebraska, Kearney were excellent hosts. Although Kearney may not be our first choice for a vacation destination, the hospitality and well-run tournament made the trip truly enjoyable. Here are a few pictures from the event - I promise to be a more active photographer next tournament! Quarterfinal postings for Dramatic Interpretation - Terra and Andrea are near the bottom left.

Terra receiving her award for Third Place in Poetry Interpretation from Tournament Director Larry Schnoor.

Terra and Andrea looking lovely with their awards. In a couple of days we will be getting back on the road with the full team to attend the National Forensics Association Championship at Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois. The tournament web site can be viewed here. We are grateful that this drive takes half as long as the drive to Kearney, and we look forward to bringing you more good news next week!

Gearing up for Nationals

This Wednesday we begin our long pilgrimage to Kearney, Nebraska for the American Forensics Association National Individual Events Championship. This is the first in a set of three very different championships. Only team President Andrea Durham and Vice President Terra Strong will be attending the AFA-NIET. We are excited for them to attend this prestigious championship and look forward to bringing you the results.

The year 2011 has been great to the team so far. A few highlights include:

• Traveling to the HFO Mid-Year Championship at Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois.

TSU had its best performance in our history of attending this tournament. We advanced 10 events to elimination rounds, and junior Terra Strong was named Tournament Champion in Poetry Interpretation. Additionally, Strong won Individual Sweepstakes Awards both days of the tournament - making her one of the top five speakers overall amongst several hundred competitors. Junior Andrea Durham and Senior Maximilian Cole were also finalists at this tournament.

• Once again being named the #1 Individual Events team in the state at the Tennessee Intercollegiate Forensics Association Championship Tournament in February

The team after winning the State Championship. Back row (from l-r): Derrick Johnson, Kelli Volk, Lanial Madden, Maximilian Cole; Front row: Wil Taylor, Terra Strong, Missmollie Thomas, Chanel Lake, Veronica James, Andrea Durham

In addition to the team award, TSU brought home many individual championships as well. Senior Maximilian Cole was named the #1 overall speaker in the state, and TSU captured first place in six of the eleven events.

• Presenting an original performance celebrating great black leaders at an event sponsored by Regions Bank and American Legacy Magazine. A slideshow of photos from that event as well as results from the Murray State University tournament can be found at the website for TSU's Office of Strategic Communications . If you just want to view the slide show, you can do so here.

The team and coaches after the Black History Month Event - taken by TSU Photographer John Cross.

Following the AFA-NIET, the full team will travel to Normal, Illinois for the National Forensics Association Championship. The last tournament of the year will be TSU's first appearance at the Interstate Oratorical Association Championship. The Interstate competition brings together the top two persuasive speeches from every state for the United States' oldest forensics competition. Sophomore Kelli Volk took first place in the Tennessee State Championship, and Andrea Durham took second - making them the two representatives from the State of Tennessee. We will keep you posted on all of these results...just send us warm thoughts for the long drive to Nebraska.

Eye of the Tiger Update

The year 2010 brought some excellent times to the TSU Forensics Team including the development of our hour-long talk show, "Eye of the Tiger"

In November 2010, "Eye of the Tiger" got picked up by local cable channel 10. You can read more about Nashville's Education, Community and Arts Television here.

Some of our November guests included Dwayne Tucker from Deloitte; Nashville Judge Monte Watkins; Miss Black Tennessee LaDonna Boyd, and TSU Professor of Theatre Lawrence James.

Forensics Competitor and "Eye of the Tiger" Correspondent Veronica James poses with our November guest, Democratic Gubernatorial Candidate, Mike McWherter.

The Crew films Byron Harvey interviewing actress Ashley Bishop for the entertainment segment.

We are looking forward to watching "Eye of the Tiger" on televisions across Nashville every Monday - tell your friends!

Team WINS at Berea College

Yesterday, the TSU Forensics team returned home from a very exciting weekend at Berea College in the lovely Berea, Kentucky. The team won first place overall during the first half of the swing tournament, and placed second the second day. TSU Senior Maximilian Cole had an incredible weekend, breaking all of his events to a final round, winning a total of 12 individual awards, and being named the Pentathlon Speaking (overall individual) Champion for both halves of the tournament.

Other highlights include:

• Winning a total of 55 awards and bringing the year award total to 89
• Every team member winning an award
• Breaking every Duo Interpretation and Program of Oral Interpretation on the team
• Winning four of the top six Pentathlon awards at each half of the tournament

Full results following some photographs

Maximilian Cole, Terra Strong, Veronica James, Byron Harvey

Kelli Volk and Wil Taylor

Duo partners Lanial Madden and Chanel Lake

The full Team with just a few of the awards from this weekend

We have almost a month until our next tournament at Belmont University right here in Nashville, but do not assume we will be taking it easy! The team and the Forensics Production Society will be filming their television show "The Eye of the Tiger," performing at the University's Veterans Day program, and possibly opening for the artist Common during his upcoming lecture on campus.

Have a good week, and I'll leave you with the results from Berea:

2010 Berea and Cumberlands Swing, Part One

Hosted by University of the Cumberlands Forensics Alumni

First Place, Large School Team Sweepstakes

Team: Tennessee State University

First Place, Pentathlon Speaking

Student: Maximilian Cole

First Place, Program of Oral Interpretation

Student: Terra Strong

First Place, Poetry Interpretation

Student: Andrea Durham

First Place, Dramatic Interpretation

Student: Terra Strong

Second Place, Pentathlon Speaking

Student: Terra Strong

Second Place, Program of Oral Interpretation

Student: Maximilian Cole

Second Place, Extemporaneous Speaking

Student: Maximilian Cole

Second Place, Duo Interpretation

Students: Maximilian Cole and Terra Strong

Second Place, Poetry Interpretation

Student: Maximilian Cole

Third Place, Program of Oral Interpretation

Student: Byron Harvey

Third Place, Poetry Interpretation

Student: Terra Strong

Third Place, Novice Impromptu Speaking

Student: Eryn Hall

Third Place, Dramatic Interpretation

Student: Andrea Durham

Third Place, Duo Interpretation

Students: Lanial Madden and Chanel Lake

Third Place, Communication Analysis

Student: Maximilian Cole

Fourth Place, Program of Oral Interpretation

Student: Wil Taylor

Fourth Place, After Dinner Speaking

Student: Veronica James

Fourth Place, Persuasive Speaking

Student: Kelli Volk

Fourth Place, Communication Analysis

Student: Byron Harvey

Fourth Place, Impromptu Speaking

Student: Maximilian Cole

Fifth Place, Pentathlon Speaking

Student: Byron Harvey

Fifth Place, Duo Interpretation

Students: Byron Harvey and Kelli Volk

Fifth Place, Program of Oral Interpretation

Student: Lanial Madden

Sixth Place, Pentathlon Speaking

Student: Wil Taylor

Sixth Place, Poetry Interpretation

Student: Wil Taylor

Seventh Place, Impromptu Speaking

Student: Derrick Johnson

Semi-Finals, Prose Interpretation

Student: Lanial Madden

Semi-Finals, Prose Interpretation

Student: Kelli Volk

Semi-Finals, Prose Interpretation

Student: Derrick Johnson

2010 Berea and Cumberlands Swing, Part Two

Hosted by 2010 Berea College Forensics Team

First Place, Pentathlon Speaking

Student: Maximilian Cole

First Place, Duo Interpretation

Students: Terra Strong and Wil Taylor

First Place, Poetry Interpretation

Student: Maximilian Cole

First Place, Program of Oral Interpretation

Student: Maximilian Cole

Second Place, Team Sweepstakes

Team: Tennessee State University

Second Place, Pentathlon Speaking

Student: Wil Taylor

Second Place, Duo Interpretation

Students: Wil Taylor and Derrick Johnson

Second Place, Program of Oral Interpretation

Student: Terra Strong

Third Place, Pentathlon Speaking

Students: Terra Strong

Third Place, Extemporaneous Speaking

Student: Maximilian Cole

Third Place, Program of Oral Interpretation

Student: Byron Harvey

Third Place, Prose Interpretation

Student: Lanial Madden

Third Place, Impromptu Speaking

Student: Maximilian Cole

Third Place, Communication Analysis

Student: Veronica James

Fourth Place, Program of Oral Interpretation

Student: Wil Taylor

Fourth Place, Prose Interpretation

Student: Kelli Volk

Fourth Place, Dramatic Interpretation

Student: Andrea Durham

Fourth Place, Poetry Interpretation

Student: Terra Strong

Fourth Place, Persuasive Speaking

Student: Andrea Durham

Fifth Place, Informative Speaking

Student: Kelli Volk

Fifth Place, Poetry Interpretation

Student: Megan Miriah Robertson

Sixth Place, Pentathlon Speaking

Student: Byron Harvey

Sixth Place, Poetry Interpretation

Student: Wil Taylor

Semi-Finals, Impromptu Speaking

Student: Derrick Johnson

Top Novice, Poetry Interpretation

Student: Megan Miriah Robertson

Tournament Updates

The competition season and fall semester are now in full swing! We hosted 12 universities on our campus the weekend of September 17-19, and when I get some pictures of the event, I will be sure to post them!

Also, we made our first out-of-state trip last weekend (October 1-2) to Illinois State University. We won some awards, had a great time, and were able to bring a novice competitor to her first forensics tournament ever.

Late last night we returned from the University of Alabama where we had an excellent showing, winning 23 total awards. Some highlights include taking Third Place as a Team at both halves of the tournament (out of 16 universities from across the nation), and Third place overall for the weekend; breaking all of our Duo Interpretation entries, and winning First, Second and Third in the event for the second half of the tournament; breaking every varsity team member into an elimination round; having two competitors win quadrathon (or overall speaker) awards. Full results after the photos!

Our lovely novices: Eryn Hall, Bianca Herron, & Megan Miriah Robertson

The full team with coaches. (front row: l-r) Terra Strong, Maximilian Cole, Kelli Volk, Lanial Madden. (back row: l-r) Coach Emily Kofoed, Coach Jerome Davis, Coach Ben Unanaowo, Veronica James, Byron Harvey, Andrea Durham, Wil Taylor, Chanel Lake, Derrick Johnson, Eryn Hall, Megan Miriah Robertson, Bianca Herron, Coach Kimberley LaMarque

Our competitors in Duo Interpretation

Full results for the weekend:

2010 Alabama Swing, Part One

Hosted by Alabama Forensics Alumni

First Place, Duo Interpretation

Students: Terra Strong and Wil Taylor

Second Place, Persuasive Speaking

Student: Kelli Volk

Second Place, Program of Oral Interpretation

Student: Byron Harvey

Third Place, Team Sweepstakes

Tennessee State University

Third Place, Duo Interpretation

Students: Byron Harvey and Kelli Volk

Fourth Place, Quadrathon Speaking

Student: Andrea Durham

Fourth Place, Program of Oral Interpretation

Student: Terra Strong

Sixth Place, Quadrathon Speaking

Student: Byron Harvey

Sixth Place, Persuasive Speaking

Student: Andrea Durham

Semi-Finals, Prose Interpretation

Student: Kelli Volk

2010 Alabama Swing, Part Two

Hosted by 2010 Alabama Forensics Team

First Place, Duo Interpretation

Students: Derrick Johnson and Wil Taylor

First Place, Program of Oral Interpretation

Student: Byron Harvey

Second Place, Duo Interpretation

Students: Terra Strong and Wil Taylor

Third Place, Team Sweepstakes

Tennessee State University

Third Place, Overall Weekend Team Sweepstakes

Tennessee State University

Third Place, After Dinner Speaking

Student: Veronica James

Third Place, Program of Oral Interpretation

Student: Terra Strong

Third Place, Duo Interpretation

Students: Chanel Lake and Lanial Madden

Fourth Place, Prose Interpretation

Student: Lanial Madden

Sixth Place, Quadrathon Speaking

Student: Andrea Durham

Sixth Place, Prose Interpretation

Student: Kelli Volk

Sixth Place, Program of Oral Interpretation

Student: Maximilian Cole

Sixth Place, Persuasive Speaking

Student: Kelli Volk

We are looking forward to having Fall break this weekend, and getting a couple of days to rest. For our next tournament we will be traveling to Berea, Kentucky the 22nd and 23rd of October.

'Toast' Was a Success!

After a bit of a Labor Day weekend hiatus, I thought I should finally post some pictures from the 'Toast to the Team' Reception that happened last Tuesday at the Richland Country Club. The event was a huge success and a really great time as well. There are so many people to thank for supporting Tennessee State University Forensics and helping make the event possible. I can't quite thank everyone here, but I must mention our chair, Roscoe Orman and our hosts Dr. T.B. and Mrs. Yvette Boyd. Their energy and time were imperative to the success of this event, and without them, it could not have happened.

Thanks to all who attended, and a very special thank you to everyone who worked to put the event together through planning, silent auction item donation, or reading in our 'literature haven'. Because of your support, the students on our team will be afforded greater travel opportunities this year.

Now, on to some pictures!

The team meets U.S. Representative Jim Cooper

The team performs 'An Ode to Poetry'

(from l-r: Byron Harvey, Terra Strong, Wilbert Taylor, Kelli Volk, Andrea Durham, Maximilian Cole, Lanial Madden, Veronica James, Chanel Lake)

Guests applauding the team after their performance

Event Chair Roscoe Orman socializes with TSU Arts & Sciences Dean, Dr. Gloria Johnson, and TSU First Lady, Dr. Marcy Johnson

A few of the team members strike a pose

(from l-r: Byron Harvey, Kelli Volk, Chanel Lake, Lanial Madden, Veronica James)

TSU President Dr. Melvin Johnson and one of our event guests.

The team poses with Roscoe Orman

(back row, l-r: Coach Jerome Davis, Chanel Lake, Byron Harvey, Maximilian Cole, Kelli Volk, Wilbert Taylor, Roscoe Orman, Terra Strong, Andrea Durham, Veronica James, Coach Ben Unanaowo; front row, l-r: Derrick Johnson, Lanial Madden)

In other news, we are now focusing on getting events ready for the first tournament of the season-hosted by TSU on September 17-19. We are looking for judges for the event, so spread the word!

Support for the Toast and the Team

Yesterday, the Tennessee Tribune published a really wonderful advertisement/story discussing our upcoming Toast to the Team event, the event chair Roscoe Orman, and the team itself.

You can see the whole article (through their web view of the paper) on page 6B. Better yet, get yourself a subscription of this fine publication here.

We are so greatful for their support!