Grace College Forensics
The Future is Communication
What do Nelson Mandela, Margaret Thatcher, Lyndon Baines Johnson, Richard Nixon, Oprah Winfrey, Adam Sandler, and Bruce Springsteen all have in common? Besides fame, fortune, and worldwide impact, these individuals all participated in Forensics.
For those who are unfamiliar with the term, “forensics” is essentially competitive public speaking. For some, that’s a big and immediate “nope.” But for many who participate in the world of forensics, they quickly see this event as the single most influential, educational, enjoyable, and professionalizing experience of their entire college career.
For starters, its fun! Forensics participants select a topic of their choice and over the course of several weeks or months, research and prepare a speech. In the meantime, they work with a dedicated forensics coach, build friendships, experience team bonding, and even help other teammates. When tournament time comes, they are ready!
Secondly, it’s challenging. Students compete against other forensics teams from around the country in a variety of categories including:
- Extemporaneous speaking
- Original Oratory
- Dramatic Interpretation
- Humorous interpretation
- Duo interpretation
- Poetry
- Impromptu
- After Dinner Speaking
- Radio Broadcasting
But Forensics is not all travel and competition. It’s also an important and exciting part of the Grace College environment. The Forensics team sponsors several events throughout the year including poetry and story slams, and also work with local high schools through mentoring, judging, and coaching.
Effective communication skills are near the top of desired traits for nearly all professional positions, regardless of major field of study or career industry. As a result, forensics is a great extracurricular activity for students from any major! It’s free to join, worth applied learning credit, and will change your life. What more could you ask for!
The team has witnessed exciting growth and success in their few years of existence, already bringing home several national championships. But they are always looking for more participants who desire to accelerate their academic and professional abilities!
If you would like to hone your presentation skills while at the same time, learning to work as a team, build confidence, compete, and have fun!, contact Melanie Eller, Director of Forensics, at ellerm@grace.edu
Some of the team’s recent successes!
(L to R) Grace College students Sarah Turek, Amaris Longenecker, Jonas Clayton, Elizabeth Mattea, and Chloe Woods pose with their awards after taking first place at the National Public Communication Speech and Debate League (PCSDL) Tournament at Butler University.
National Team Awards
2019 1st Place Sweeps National Public Communication Speech and Debate League Division II National Individual Events Sweepstakes
2019 1st place Sweeps National Christian College Forensics Invitational for Division III School
National Individual Awards
2019 Two PCSDL National Champions Titles: Duo Improvisation, Poetry Slam
2019 Three PCSDL 3rd Place National PCSDL Titles: Public Narrative, Poetry Slam, Audition Monologue
2019 5th Place National PCSDL Title: Audible Interpretation
2019 National Christian Communicators Forensics Invitational: 4th Place in Novice Prose Interpretation
2019 National Christian Communicators Forensics Invitational: 4th Place Varsity Faith Interpretation Literature
State Tournament Awards:
6th Place Novice Prose
6th Place Novice Poetry
Eastern Michigan University
5th Place Varsity Dramatic Interpretation
5th Place Novice Prose
Bowling Green State University/Ohio
5th Novice Prose Interpretation
Muskingum University
3rd Place Varsity Rhetorical Criticism
4th Place Varsity Program of Oral Interpretation
7th Place Varsity Festival Storytelling