Speech team wins 2nd place
Ross Loftin
Issue date: 11/12/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
Volunteer State Community College's speech team won the 2nd place trophy at a speech tournament at Owensboro Community College in Kentucky.
The competition was the first large tournament for this year's new forensics team.
Members of the team include Jodi and Will Axley, Shane Burks, Jay Cathcart and Joseph Norman.
"We had prepared events such as informative and persuasive speeches, as well as impromptu presentations, and interpretive events such as prose, poetry and drama," said Dr. Judi Truitt, forensics team director and coach.
Truitt stated that the team was well-prepared for the numerous factors involved in good speech-making and public performances and that they have been "practicing since the first of the semester... I wanted to give them time to prepare and do well."
The members of the team gave their speeches before a panel of judges, who graded their performance for each event.
The team was given an overall score based on both their individual presentations and a rating for the speech team as a whole.
Novice awards were given to Burks and Norman for Dramatic Interpretation and Duo Interpretation. Will Axley and Cathcart were also given a novice award for Duo Interpretation.
Will Axley won 2nd place and Jodi Axley was a finalist in the after dinner speaking category.
Dr. Truitt said the reasons for the team's success are a combination of natural affinity for speaking, experience, and most of all hard work and training.
"I think the thing is being prepared and disciplined, so that's what I really stressed with them and asked from them. They're really disciplined about preparation," said Truitt.
Len Assante, associate professor and communications department chair and the former director of the forensics speech team said that the group's skill and determination led to their win at the competition.
"There's two things, number one is the basic talent that the students have and the other thing is Dr. Truitt's work with them," said Assante. "She's just a great coach and we're very lucky to have her."
The team's next speech competition will take place at Carson-Newman College in Jefferson City, Tenn. on Nov. 10 at 8:30 A.M.
Truitt said the upcoming tournament will be more challenging for the team as they will be competing against a wider assortment of large universities than in the previous competition.
"If we really work at it, I think we will do well," said Truitt.
Jodi Axley, team president and co-organizer, said that while the last tournament was difficult, she and the team greatly enjoyed it and hope that the upcoming competition will be just as exciting and rewarding.
"I'm looking forward to competing again soon," said Axley. "We have confidence that we'll do great."
The competition was the first large tournament for this year's new forensics team.
Members of the team include Jodi and Will Axley, Shane Burks, Jay Cathcart and Joseph Norman.
"We had prepared events such as informative and persuasive speeches, as well as impromptu presentations, and interpretive events such as prose, poetry and drama," said Dr. Judi Truitt, forensics team director and coach.
Truitt stated that the team was well-prepared for the numerous factors involved in good speech-making and public performances and that they have been "practicing since the first of the semester... I wanted to give them time to prepare and do well."
The members of the team gave their speeches before a panel of judges, who graded their performance for each event.
The team was given an overall score based on both their individual presentations and a rating for the speech team as a whole.
Novice awards were given to Burks and Norman for Dramatic Interpretation and Duo Interpretation. Will Axley and Cathcart were also given a novice award for Duo Interpretation.
Will Axley won 2nd place and Jodi Axley was a finalist in the after dinner speaking category.
Dr. Truitt said the reasons for the team's success are a combination of natural affinity for speaking, experience, and most of all hard work and training.
"I think the thing is being prepared and disciplined, so that's what I really stressed with them and asked from them. They're really disciplined about preparation," said Truitt.
Len Assante, associate professor and communications department chair and the former director of the forensics speech team said that the group's skill and determination led to their win at the competition.
"There's two things, number one is the basic talent that the students have and the other thing is Dr. Truitt's work with them," said Assante. "She's just a great coach and we're very lucky to have her."
The team's next speech competition will take place at Carson-Newman College in Jefferson City, Tenn. on Nov. 10 at 8:30 A.M.
Truitt said the upcoming tournament will be more challenging for the team as they will be competing against a wider assortment of large universities than in the previous competition.
"If we really work at it, I think we will do well," said Truitt.
Jodi Axley, team president and co-organizer, said that while the last tournament was difficult, she and the team greatly enjoyed it and hope that the upcoming competition will be just as exciting and rewarding.
"I'm looking forward to competing again soon," said Axley. "We have confidence that we'll do great."
Be the first to comment on this story