PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas (March 20, 2020) – Prairie View A&M University recently hosted the National HBCU Speech and Debate Championship, where the university team set a personal record in the awards they took home.
According to Christopher Medina, the team coach, a lecturer, and director of forensics at PVAMU, this was the third annual National HBCU Speech and Debate Championship. In the first championship, PVAMU won four awards; in the second, the university won six awards; and this year, PVAMU won 19 awards, including two national championships.
“Jeremy Coffman, our assistant director of forensics, was an integral part of the success of the team and the event,” Medina said. “He did anything that needed to be done, not only preparing our students in debate events, helping to assign judges, heading hospitality and cleanup, but also making sure everyone on the campus was enjoying their experience. This tournament would not have been a success without his efforts.”
Last year, PVAMU was in the small school category based on the number of entries. This year, the university was in the large school category, placing second in debate team sweepstakes, fourth in individual events sweepstakes, and fourth overall. The team has two national championship tournaments left for the season.
“This event will remain with the 150 students from 15 HBCUs for the rest of their lives — it will help them to build skills that will help them in their future and help to shape the world,” Medina said.
The PVAMU team’s individual results were as follows:
- Alona Henry – Quarterfinalist in IPDA Debate, 3rd place in IPDA Speaking
- Chiamaka Okoye – National Champion in After Dinner Speaking; 6th in Impromptu Speaking; Quarterfinalist in NPDA Debate
- Ciara Edwards – National Champion in Slam Poetry; 6th in Programmed Oral Interpretation
- Keishon Groves – 6th in Dramatic Interpretation
- Maia McFarlin – 3rd in Extemporaneous Speaking, 5th in NPDA Speaking, Quarterfinalist in NPDA Debate, 5th in Impromptu Speaking
- Neshun Etheridge – 5th in Extemporaneous Speaking, Quarterfinalist in NPDA Debate, 5th in Persuasive Speaking
- Treasure Smith – Quarterfinalist in NPDA Debate
- Team Awards – 2nd in Debate Sweepstakes, 4th in Individual Events Sweepstakes, 4th in Overall Sweepstakes
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By Emilia Benton