The George R. Brown Forensics Society, Rice Speech and Debate has had its season cut short due to Covid-19. Fortunately, the team was able to amass a very successful record in the first half of the semester, including winning 45 awards and finishing 4th in the nation in debate!
Speech Nationals Canceled
While debate nationals was completed in time, unfortunately the American Forensics Association National Individual Events Tournament was canceled due to Covid-19. Rice Qualified 4 competitors for this prestigious event. There is an outside chance that the team might be able to attend a delayed National Forensic Association National Tournament late May. For now, it only a possibility. Please congratulate the following national qualifiers in Speech:
Lauren Palladino: Extemporaneous Speaking, Informative Speaking, Persuasive Speaking, Communication Analysis
Bia Murray: Informative Speaking, Persuasive Speaking
Tiffany Sloan: Programmed Oral Interpretation
Cole Lambo: Extemporaneous Speaking, Informative Speaking
University of Missouri
Amy Lin and Joel Abraham: Quarterfinals, Varsity Debate
Annie Chen and Maddy Scannell: Quarterfinals, Varsity Debate: 3rd place “I-70 Cup” ( A measure of performance at multiple tournaments)
Krithika Samanna and Jacob Tate: Quarterfinals, Varsity Debate
Maddy Scannell 2nd Overall Speaker
Annie Chen 4th Overall Speaker
Amy Lin 6th Overall Speaker
Krithika Shamanna 7th Overall Speaker
Joel Abraham 9th Overall Speaker
National Round Robin at Concordia University-Irvine
Annie Chen and Maddy Scannell: 2ndPlace, Debate
Amy Lin and Joel Abraham: 4th Place Debate
Maddy Scannell 4th Overall Speaker
Joel Abraham 5th Overall Speaker
Annie Chen 7th Overall Speaker
Amy Lin 8th Overall Speaker
Overall: 1st Place “90s Dress-up Day” Contest (with Dr. Worth wearing actual clothes from the 90s)
Battle of Flowers
Held every year since 1926, this prestigious and unique event is the oldest speaking contest in Texas. It features persuasive speaking on historical topics related to the state Texas. This year Rice was represented by Bria Murray and Cole Lambo. Murray finished third in the competition, with a manuscript memorized speech entitled, “Lucki For Us: The Doris Allen Story”
Speech on the Beach, Corpus Christi, TX
Cole Lambo: 1st Place Informative Speaking
Louisiana State University
Part 1:
Lauren Palladino: 3rd Place Impromptu Speaking; 4th Place Communications Analysis
Coleman Lambo: 2nd Place Informative Speaking; 4th Place Impromptu Speaking
Bria Murray: 4th Place Informative Speaking
Tiffany Sloan: 2nd Place Programmed Oral Interpretation; 3rd Place Poetry Interpretation
Part 2:
Lauren Palladino: 1st Place Persuasive Speaking; 4th Place Communications Analysis
Coleman Lambo: 2rd Place Informative Speaking; 3rd Place Impromptu Speaking
Bria Murray: 2nd Place Informative Speaking
Tiffany Sloan: 3rd Place Poetry Interpretation
National Parliamentary Tournament of Excellence (Qualification-based Nationals)
Annie Chen and Maddy Scannell: 3rd Place in the nation!
Amy Lin and Joel Abraham: 5th Place in the nation!
Speaker Awards
Maddy Scannell 7th Overall Speaker
Annie Chen 8th Overall Speaker
Joel Abraham 11th Overall Speaker
Amy Lin 16th Overall Speaker
National Parliamentary Debate Association (Open Nationals)
Tournament sweepstakes:4th in the nation!
Season sweeps: 5th in the nation!
Tournament:
Amy Lin and Joel Abraham: Quarterfinals, Varsity Debate
Annie Chen and Jacob Tate: Quarterfinals, Varsity Debate
Speaker awards:
Amy Lin: 4th Overall Speaker
Joel Abraham: 10th Overall Speaker
Annie Chen: 17th Overall Speaker
Please join us in congratulating these amazing academic competitors!
This most likely concludes the team’s season. The team is coached by David Worth and Shannon LaBove.