Southwest Baptist University News Release
Contact: Sharina Smith, Office of Marketing & Communications
BOLIVAR, Mo. – The Speaking Bearcats of Southwest Baptist University had an excellent weekend of competition at Louisiana State University in Shreveport, Ill., November 3-6.
Facing challenging competition from approximately 30 schools from all across the nation, the team finished third in overall sweepstakes for the weekend. The Speaking Bearcats finished just behind last year’s Pi Kappa Delta National Champion Boise State University, who finished in second place and long-time fellow Baptist rivals from William Carey University who finished first.
“We were especially proud of the results for this past weekend given that we had by far the youngest and smallest team to finish in the top three in sweepstakes” noted Dr. David Bailey, assistant professor of communication arts, director of forensics, and chair of the school of communication arts. Assistant Director of Forensics Ms. Rebecca Koe added that “These results certainly bode well for the future of the team.” The SBU team consisted of five students (four of whom were freshmen). Given their small numbers they posted some impressive results.
For the first half of the swing
Nik Fischer: “Top novice” in extemporaneous speaking, tied for sixth place in extemporaneous speaking; “top novice” in communication analysis, sixth place in communication analysis; fifth place in informative speaking; fourth place in impromptu speaking
Shawna Barkley: Fifth place in duo interpretation with Jenna King
Meg Burns: “Top novice” in after dinner speaking, third place in after dinner speaking
Jenna King: Fourth place in after dinner speaking, fifth place in duo interpretation with Shawna Barkley
For the second half of the swing
Matt Adams: Fifth place in after dinner speaking
Shawna Barkley: “Top novice” in communication analysis, seventh place in communication analysis; fifth place in duo interpretation with Jenna King
Jenna King: Fifth place in duo interpretation with Shawna Barkley
Meg Burns: Fourth place in after dinner speaking, octafinalist in novice public debate
Nik Fischer: “Top novice” in impromptu speaking, second place in impromptu speaking; octafinalist in varsity public debate
The SBU Speaking Bearcats will take the next few weekends off and then head to the “Cameron Christmas Classic,” December 2-3, in Lawton, Okla., for their last tournament of the semester.
###
Southwest Baptist University is a leader among private universities in truly integrating Christ-centered academic pursuits with comprehensive professional programs at an affordable price. At SBU, the faculty and staff create a caring, academic community to prepare students to be servant leaders in a global society. For more information, visit www.SBUniv.edu.
SBU’s Office of Marketing and Communications is available to news media 24 hours a day at (417) 399-7918.
