SDSU qualifies 10 for national forensics tournament

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BROOKINGS – Following this weekend’s Joel Hefling American Forensics Association National Individual Events District IV Tournament, South Dakota State University’s speech and debate team will have 10 students competing in 22 events for the AFA-NIET national event. The national event will be April 5-7 at the University of Alabama.

According to Andrea Carlile, SDSU’s director of forensics, the 22 events are the most in program history.

Lauren Buisker, a senior political science and communication studies major from Volga, was nominated as an AFA All-America candidate for District IV, which consists of Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin. Buisker also was nominated for the Kevin Heineman District Student Award in recognition of her competitive success and strong academic achievements.

Carlile received the Larry Schnoor District IV Distinguished Service Award, which honors one’s dedication and service to the forensics community. Carlile has led SDSU forensics for seven years.

The full roster for the AFA-NIET is:

• Buisker: after-dinner speaking, communication analysis, extemporaneous speaking, impromptu speaking, informative speaking and persuasive speaking;

• Nolan Bowers, Watertown: extemporaneous speaking and impromptu speaking;

• Joy Dahle, Sioux Falls: informative speaking and program oral interpretation;

• Jillian DeBoer, George, Iowa: after-dinner speaking and prose interpretation;

• Taylor Gilmore, Dillsburg, Pennsylvania: after-dinner speaking, extemporaneous speaking, impromptu speaking and persuasive speaking;

• Benjamin Hummel, Brookings: communication analysis and impromptu speaking;

• Olivia Murray, Spearfish: extemporaneous speaking;

• Isabel Reyes, Mitchell: prose interpretation;

• Cameron Schroder, Huron: prose interpretation; and

• Lars Wagener, Kasson, Minnesota: dramatic interpretation.

The district tournament is named after Joel Hefling, who retired seven years ago as SDSU’s director of forensics.

The team will host a public showcase featuring a variety of performances at 7:30 p.m. March 27 at a site to be determined.

– From SDSU Marketing & Communications