News & Events

LEXINGTON, Ky.—Transylvania’s speech and debate team walked away from its home tournament with numerous awards, continuing the success it has enjoyed all semester. Senior Liz Sills and junior Marshall Jolly’s team placed first in the parliamentary debate tournament, winning every ballot of the competition. The team of sophomores Chase Bannister and Tyler Murphy, who were competing in their first tournament, placed second in the same event.

In overall speaker points, Jolly placed first, Sills placed third and Murphy placed ninth. Freshman Katrina Mineo also competed and was awarded fifth place in the After Dinner Speaking category.

The team has also done well in previous tournaments this semester. At the University of the Cumberlands and Berea College tournaments at Berea in October, freshman Raven Mineo took first in novice impromptu speaking, first in novice extemporaneous speaking, second in open extemporaneous speaking, sixth in impromptu speaking and was an impromptu semifinalist. Sills was also an impromptu semifinalist and placed sixth in open debate speaking, and Jolly placed tenth in open debate. The team placed third overall in the small college division.

In November the team competed in Owensboro. Raven Mineo placed first in novice impromptu counseling, second in novice extemporaneous speaking and third in novice impromptu speaking. Freshman Justine Croy placed first in dramatic interpretation and fifth in prose. Jolly placed second in impromptu speaking, third in impromptu counseling and sixth in extemporaneous speaking. Katrina Mineo placed fourth in novice impromptu counseling. Senior Jennifer Leong placed fifth in extemporaneous speaking and seventh in open division speaking. Senior Zach Horn placed fifth in impromptu speaking and tenth in open division speaking. The team placed fourth overall and was the recipient of the Anderson Cup for continued excellence.

The team is coached by writing, rhetoric and communication professor Gary Deaton and local attorney Leigh Ann Jordan.