More Sit-In Press

The Tennessean published this about the team.

This picture of Khi Gilkey and Chanel Lake is from the Tennessean. I can't find the name of the person I should credit, but huge thanks to the Tennessean for this great pic.

Nashville Sit-In Presentations

Yesterday, the Tennessee State Forensics team presented a performance commemorating the Nashville lunch counter sit-ins of 1960. The event was held at Bethlehem Center in Nashville, and was sponsored by Regions Bank. Students of all ages, and a variety of adults - including two men who had participated the sit-ins - were in attendance. The sit-ins were an important factor in the desegregation of Nashville. Not only is this February Black History Month, but it is also the 50th anniversary of the sit-ins. Channel 4 News (WSMV) had this story about our presentation.

The TSU Forensics Team varsity members (from l-r): Terra Strong, Maximilian Cole, Andrea Durham, Veronica James and Lanial Madden

Waiting to be interviewed by the newspeople!

Practicing for the performance - what a sharp looking group!

TSU is the #1 Forensics Team in the State of Tennessee!

The TSU Forensics Team just returned from the Tennessee Intercollegiate Forensics Association State Championship at Walters State Community College in Morristown, Tennessee, and we are happy to say that we took First Place as a team, and had four of the top six overall individual speakers. Terra Strong placed first in Pentathlon, Andrea Durham placed second. The team won a total of 31 awards at the tournament including 7 first place awards. Also, TSU won every interpretation event (Poetry, Dramatic, Prose, Duo and Program of Interpretation) and had three of the tournament's Top Novices.

Pictured (from l-r): front row - Veronica James, Lanial Madden, Maximilian Cole, Chanel Lake, Khi Gilkey; middle row - Marlon Lipscomb, Byron Harvey, Kelli Volk, Terra Strong, Andrea Durham, Derrick Johnson, Carissa Paul; back row - Terrance Kendrick, Randy Taylor, Ashley Bishop, Wil Taylor, Austin Ashford, Dominique Nance

Full results:

First Place, Team Sweepstakes - Team: Tennessee State University

First Place, Pentathlon Speaking - Student: Terra Strong

First Place, Poetry Interpretation - Student: Terra Strong

First Place, Program of Oral Interpretation - Student: Maximilian Cole

First Place, Duo Interpretation - Students: Andrea Durham and Terra Strong

First Place, Dramatic Interpretation - Student: Ashley Bishop

First Place, Prose Interpretation - Student: Austin Ashford

Second Place, Pentathlon Speaking - Student: Andrea Durham

Second Place, Program of Oral Interpretation - Student: Andrea Durham

Second Place, After Dinner Speaking - Student: Kelli Volk

Second Place, Impromptu Speaking - Student: Derrick Johnson

Second Place, Informative Speaking - Student: Lanial Madden

Second Place, Dramatic Interpretation - Student: Byron Harvey

Third Place, Rhetorical Criticism - Student: Terra Strong

Third Place, Poetry Interpretation - Student: Wil Taylor

Third Place, Informative Speaking - Student: Veronica James

Third Place, Dramatic Interpretation - Student: Wil Taylor

Third Place, After Dinner Speaking - Student: Derrick Johnson

Fourth Place, Duo Interpretation - Students: Terra Strong and Randy Taylor

Fourth Place, Impromptu Speaking - Student: Maximilian Cole

Fourth Place, After Dinner Speaking - Student: Veronica James

Fourth Place, Poetry Interpretation - Student: Wil Taylor

Fifth Place, Pentathlon Speaking - Student: Maximilian Cole

Fifth Place, Program of Oral Interpretation - Student: Lanial Madden

Fifth Place, Dramatic Interpretation - Student: Khi Gilkey

Sixth Place, Pentathlon Speaking - Student: Lanial Madden

Sixth Place, Duo Interpretation - Students: Lanial Madden and Derrick Johnson

Sixth Place, Persuasive Speaking - Student: Khi Gilkey

Semi-Finals, Impromptu Speaking - Student: Byron Harvey

Top Novice, After Dinner Speaking - Student: Kelli Volk

Top Novice, Prose Interpretation - Student: Austin Ashford

Top Novice, Dramatic Interpretation - Student: Ashley Bishop

We will be taking some time off from traveling and competing to prepare for the National Championships in April, and to work on community presentations. Because 2010 is the 50th anniversary of the Nashville Sit-ins, we will be involved in helping Nashville celebrate this movement. Recently, we performed "We sat down, so we could stand for the solution: The Nashville Sit-in movement" at the 29th Annual Nashville Conference on African American History and Culture, and we will be representing TSU at another event later this week.

2009 Photos

Murray State University

The team just returned from a tournament at Murray State University in Murray, KY where we won a total of 95 awards - bringing the total number of awards won this year to 229 - and surpassing the total awards won last year. TSU was the first place team both days, and brought home 18 first place awards including Terra Strong's First Place, Pentathlon Speaking award from day two. Every student on the team contributed to the win, and we are happy to report the following list of results:

Day one results posted, day two results on the way!

2010 Murray State University Swing, Part One

Hosted by the Murray State University Speech and Debate Union

First Place, Open Team Sweepstakes

Team: Tennessee State University

First Place, Informative Speaking

Student: Lanial Madden

First Place, Novice Poetry Interpretation

Student: Wil Taylor

First Place, Novice Persuasive Speaking

Student: Khi Gilkey

First Place, Novice Impromptu Speaking

Student: Derrick Johnson

First Place, Novice After Dinner Speaking

Student: Kelli Volk

First Place, Novice Prose Interpretation

Student: Derrick Johnson

Second Place, Pentathlon Speaking

Student: Andrea Durham

Second Place, Duo Interpretation

Students: Andrea Durham and Terra Strong

Second Place, Novice Persuasive Speaking

Student: Byron Harvey

Second Place, Novice Extemporaneous Speaking

Student: Khi Gilkey

Second Place, Dramatic Interpretation

Student: Andrea Durham

Second Place, Novice Dramatic Interpretation

Student: Wilbert Taylor

Second Place, Poetry Interpretation

Student: Terra Strong

Second Place, Novice Poetry Interpretation

Student: Khi Gilkey

Second Place, Program of Oral Interpretation

Student: Maximilian Cole

Third Place, Pentathlon Speaking

Student: Khi Gilkey

Third Place, Novice Impromptu Speaking

Student: Byron Harvey

Third Place, Novice After Dinner Speaking

Student: Byron Harvey

Third Place, Extemporaneous Speaking

Student: Maximilian Cole

Third Place, Novice Prose Interpretation

Student: Kelli Volk

Third Place, Novice Dramatic Interpretation

Student: Byron Harvey

Third Place, Novice Poetry Interpretation

Student: Derrick Johnson

Fourth Place, Pentathlon Speaking

Student: Maximilian Cole

Fourth Place, Novice Prose Interpretation

Student: Khi Gilkey

Fourth Place, Poetry Interpretation

Student: Maximilian Cole

Fourth Place, Novice Dramatic Interpretation

Student: Khi Gilkey

Fourth Place, Program of Oral Interpretation

Student: Terra Strong

Fifth Place, Pentathlon Speaking

Student: Terra Strong

Fifth Place, Persuasive Speaking

Student: Maximilian Cole

Fifth Place, Novice Dramatic Interpretation

Student: Derrick Johnson

Fifth Place, Program of Oral Interpretation

Student: Andrea Durham

Sixth Place, Novice Dramatic Interpretation

Student: Chanel Lake

Sixth Place, Program of Oral Interpretation

Student: Kelli Volk

Golden AFA Leg, Prose Interpretation

Student: Lanial Madden

Top Novice, Duo Interpretation

Students: Chanel Lake and Kelli Volk

Press!

The University's media blog (and the university home page) posted this article about our success this year.

Check it out!