The Bradley Speech Team brought home its 17th consecutive Illinois Intercollegiate Forensics Association State Championship scoring 297 points besting second place Northwestern University (136 points) with Illinois State University, North Central College, and Southeastern Illinois College rounding out the top five programs in the state. With a small contingent of the team, Bradley was able to bring home 7 of 11 individual event state championships. Abby Surprenant (Sr.) from Marshall, MN took home the overall top speaker state championship. Surprenant also became the first person to win the coveted Curt Byars Oratory State Championship in back-to-back years. This honor makes Surprenant one of only two students who will represent the state of Illinois at the most prestigious and oldest public speaking competition in the United States, the Interstate Oratorical Contest, which will take place in Lafayette, Louisiana.
"Announcing Abby as the Curt Byars Oratory State Champion was one of those moments that will stick with me for the rest of my career. Curt was my teammate at Bradley and a close friend who tragically passed away shortly after graduating. Abby perfectly exemplifies Curt's passion for advocacy and will undoubtedly represent the state in a way that will make Curt proud" said Director of Forensics Ken Young.
The team will be preparing the rest of March for their two national tournaments: the American Forensic Association National Individual Events Tournament hosted here on Bradley's campus (4/1-3) and the National Forensic Association National Tournament in Eau Claire, WI (4/13-17).
The public is welcome to attend the team's "Night Before Nationals" performances in Neumiller Lecture Hall on March 24th and 25th at 7pm (rated PG) and 9pm (rated R for language). These four shows, roughly an hour long each, will showcase the team's year long work before they head off to nationals. Admission is $5 per show and all proceeds go towards the team's travel expenses.
Bradley State Champions:
Dakotah Asbury (Sr. Advertising Major from Rochelle, IL)- Prose Interpretation and Program Oral Interpretation State Champion
Sarah Brashear (Jr. Public Relations Major from Omaha, NE) and Greg Huber (So. Business Management Major from Omaha, NE)- Duo Interpretation State Champions
Abby Hanneman (Sr. Television Arts Major from Naperville, IL)- Communication Analysis State Champion
Trijae Johnson (Fr. Communication Major from South Holland, IL)- Poetry Interpretation State Champion
Kyle Powers (So. Public Relations Major from Morehead, KY)- Dramatic Interpretation State Champion
Abby Surprenant (Sr. Organizational Communication Major from Marshall, MN)- Curt Byars Oratory State Champion and Individual Sweepstakes State Champion
