UA Forensic Council Places 6th at AFA National Tournament

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The University of Alabama Forensic Council placed sixth at the American Forensic Association’s National Individual Events Tournament in Gainesville, Florida, where they competed against 70 colleges and universities.

Of the 19 students competing in individual events, 12 advanced to the quarterfinals or beyond. Three students advanced to the semifinals, including Cassie Rogers-Buchanan, of Anniston, who competed for impromptu speaking and as part of a duo interpretation with Brandi White, of Greenville, South Carolina.

Tiffany Hornback, a senior from Palm Beach, Florida, was named to the 2016 AFA All-American Team.

“This was the first group of seniors that I recruited to The University of Alabama and coached all four years of their forensic council experience,”  said Bobby Imbody, director of forensics. “Each year, this group of seniors has placed their team in the top ten. There aren’t a lot of programs that can make that claim.

“This team was truly a team from the most senior competitor to the most novice freshmen. They cared for each other, they supported each other, and they competed hard for each other and their university. They honestly represented The University of Alabama and the hundreds of Alabama Forensic Council alumni that came before them extremely well and with great pride.”

Founded in 1946, the Alabama Forensic Council is the oldest co-curricular organization at The University of Alabama. The competitive speech and debate program aims to promote intellectual discovery, enable professional development, strengthen and utilize one’s unique voice, construct democratic messages, engage in interpersonal and rhetorical exploration, and foster community.

In its history, the team has won 20 national championships and 13 national individual championships.

Below is a list of the 2016 AFA-NIET finalists:

Cassie Rogers-Buchanan (Anniston): Impromptu Speaking, Duo Interpretation

Tre Ingram (Harrisburg, Illinois): Duo Interpretation

Tiffany Hornback (Palm Beach, Florida): Informative Speaking, Persuasive Speaking

Alexandra Svenpladsen (Franklin, Tennessee): Informative Speaking

Jahman Hill (Larned, Kansas): Program Oral Interpretation, Impromptu Speaking

Katherine Leigh Harville (Morristown, Tennessee): Poetry Interpretation

Kalyn Lee (Birmingham): Communication Analysis

Brandi White (Greenville, South Carolina): Duo Interpretation

Mia McClintic (Oswego, Illinois): Informative Speaking

Jacob McHugh (Charlotte, North Carolina): After-dinner Speaking, Communication Analysis

Jalen Drummond (Wedowee): Duo Interpretation

McLean Stewart (Fitzpatrick): Extemporaneous Speaking, Informative Speaking

Contact

Hailey Grace Steele, communication specialist, 205/348-6416, hgsteele@ua.edu

Source

Bobby Imbody, director of forensics, imbody@ua.edu