Speech and Debate Kick Season Off

Siloam Springs, Ark. (November 1, 2005) - The JBU Speech and Debate team began its 2005-2006 season strong, finishing first overall in debate at a Pi Kappa Delta Regional tournament, Oct. 21-22 at Cameron University in Lawton, Okla.

Eleven other colleges and universities from Arkansas, Kansas, Idaho, Louisiana, Missouri and Oklahoma competed in the tournament. All colleges and universities that participated are members of Pi Kappa Delta, a national honorary collegiate speech and debate fraternity.

“The team did an impressive job,” Jason Hough, speech and debate coach said. “Most of this year’s team members are new recruits, but they worked hard, and it shows.”

Junior Rebecca Clendenen led the team with a second place victory in Novice Public Debate. In this style of debate, two competitors go head-to-head discussing important current events. Junior Wyatt Bury earned a semi-finals finish in the same event. Bury also received a superior speaking award.

Junior James Kuykendall and partner Sophomore Nicole Ediger secured a semi-finals finish in Open Parliamentary Debate, while partners Sophomore Austin Benedict and Senior Rebecca Holland secured a quarter-finals berth in Novice Parliamentary Debate. In this style of debate, two partners compete against another team on issues concerning world events. Ediger also earned a speaking award for excellent marks.

Hough and assistant coach Jason Edgar competed in Open Public debate for the team. In Open Public, professionals in the community can enter the event. Hough

and Edgar closed the event meeting each other in the final round. Hough and Edgar also received superior speaking awards.

Also contributing to the team win were Kuykendall, junior Zach Fuller, and freshman Brad Webber, who received excellent markings in Extemporaneous Speaking; Ediger, who received an excellent mark in Impromptu Speaking; Fuller and senior partner Jessica Hunsberger in Open Parliamentary Debate; Sophomores Aaron Brenner and partner Austin Teed, Novice Parliamentary Debate; Webber, Sophomores Ben Ghrist, Don David Turner, and Jon Erickson, Novice Public Debate.

The team’s next tournament is November 11-13 at Louisiana State University, Shreveport.

John Brown University is a private Christian university, ranked sixth by U.S. News & World Report in the Southern Region. JBU enrolls more than 1,900 students from 43 states and 40 countries. JBU is a member of Arkansas’ Independent Colleges and Universities and the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities.