This post was written by Director of Forensics, Timothy Bill.

LEXINGTON, KY. (November 2, 2016) – The University of Kentucky Forensics Team won the prestigious Stephen J. Kopp traveling sweepstakes award at the Marshall University Chief Justice Invitational speech and debate tournament. This award is given each year to the team with the greatest number of sweepstakes points from all current and past iterations of the tournament combined.

This traveling sweepstakes award is the first such achievement in the history of the UK Forensics team. Most team awards are based entirely on the performance of the students at a single competition. To win a traveling sweepstakes award, a team has to perform consistently well over the course of years to be victorious. In this case, UK has been attending the Chief Justice Invitational since the fall of 2013.

 “This award is not just a testament to the hard work of this year’s students, but is a recognition of the talent and dedication of every competitor who’s ever been a member of our team” says Director of Forensics Timothy Bill. “Each year, these amazing students have continued to build on the successes of those who came before them. For a team that’s only in its fifth year of competition, they have an awful lot to be proud of.”

The Stephen J. Kopp traveling trophy will remain at UK until next year’s competition when it will be returned to Marshall University and awarded to the next championship team. After winning the title, a team’s points are reset to zero and the accumulation of sweepstakes points begins anew. The previous recipient of this award was Western Kentucky University, the reigning national champions.

At this year’s tournament, UK placed second in combined sweepstakes, second in the individual events sweepstakes, and was the second place Pi Kappa Delta chapter at the competition. Sophomores Matt Karijolic and Veronica Scott placed third and fourth in the individual sweepstakes competition. Both of these placings are UK firsts at this tournament. Competitors from UK earned the following awards at this competition:

Team Sweepstakes

Champions – Stephen J. Kopp Traveling Sweepstakes

2nd Place – Combined Speech and Debate Sweepstakes

2nd Place – Individual Events Sweepstakes

2nd Place – Pi Kappa Delta Chapter

Individual Sweepstakes

3rd Place – Matt Karijolic

4th Place – Veronica Scott

After Dinner Speaking

3rd Place – Matt Karijolic

Broadcasting

4th Place – Megan Wagner

5th Place – Veronica Scott

Drama Interpretation

6th Place – Veronica Scott

Duo Interpretation

5th Place – Kaylon Kennedy and Rachel Brase

6th Place – Kaylon Kennedy and Matt Karijolic

Extemporaneous Speaking (Novice)

4th Place – Josh Finley

5th Place – Will Brennan

Impromptu Speaking

2nd Place – Megan Wagner

4th Place – Veronica Scott

Improvisational Duo

1st Place – Will Brennan and Josh Finley

Top Novices – Will Brennan and Josh Finley

Parliamentary Debate (Novice)

Semifinalists – Will Brennan and Josh Finley

Parliamentary Debate (Varsity)

2nd Place – Matt Karijolic and Veronica Scott

Semifinalists – Kaylon Kennedy and Rachel Brase

6th Place Speaker – Veronica Scott

Poetry Interpretation

6th Place – Laura McAllister

Program Oral Interpretation

3rd Place – Kaylon Kennedy

Public Debate

1st Place Speaker – Sam Northrup

Rhetorical Criticism

1st Place – Matt Karijolic

4th Place – Rachel Brase

The University of Kentucky Forensics Team is committed to training the next generation of civic leaders who are passionate about effecting change in their communities. To foster these skills, the team takes part in competitions throughout the southeast region of the United States. The team’s next competition will be the WYRD Invitational speech and debate tournament held at Transylvania University in Lexington, Kentucky December 2-3.

UK Forensics is a student organization in the School of Information Science in the College of Communication and Information. The team regularly competes in twelve public speaking events and three forms of debate. To find out more, please visit the team’s website www.ukforensics.com.