ESU forensics students plan, execute EHS tourney
ESU news release
Friday, April 11, 2008
ESU News Release
A group of Emporia State University students used a hands-on approach to learn how to run a speech tournament as part of their preparation to become speech teachers and coaches.
The students planned, organized, and were hosts for a tournament held this month at Emporia High School. About 180 students from 10 Kansas high schools attended and competed in 10 events — oratory, informative speaking, impromptu, extemporaneous speaking, prose, poetry, serious solo acting, humorous solo acting, duet acting, and improvised duet acting.
“It’s vital that these students understand the procedures, the stresses, and the joys of planning and running a tournament,” said Carol Strickland, ESU instructor. “The best way, of course, is actual hands-on experience.”
Each spring, students in the “Directing Forensic Activities” class at ESU learn the fundamentals of coaching and administering their own programs, including hosting speech tournaments. In Kansas, coaches who want their schools to be invited to other tournaments must also host their own tournaments.
Leslie Seaton served as tournament director and Katie Murphy was in charge of hospitality. Leslie Taylor designed T-shirts and was in charge of awards; Derek Jensen, Andrea Turner and Frankie Rizo organized topics to be used in Impromptu, Extemporaneous and Improvised Duet Acting categories; T.J. Erickson worked on advertising and helped secure judges for the competitions, and Emily Thomas directed scheduling of events.
All of the students worked to prepare ballots, get judges, and run and tabulate results.
The joint venture between ESU and EHS began in 1999 and continues to be a positive experience for all involved, Strickland said.