OBU Hosts Regional Christian Speech and Debate Tournament

OBU hosted the National Christian Forensics and Communications Association (NCFCA) speech and debate tournament Jan. 7-10 on its campus in Shawnee. The event is a regional qualifying tournament including home school students from Oklahoma and Texas.

Over 220 students ages 12-18 attended the event. The students competed in two debate categories, Lincoln Douglas and Team Policy, as well as 11 different speech categories. Students who qualify will be eligible to compete at the national event held later this year in St. Paul, Minnesota, at the University of Northwestern.

The National Christian Forensics and Communications Association is the oldest and most established homeschool forensics league in the country. NCFCA is a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing communications-based competitive activities, such as speech and debate, to homeschooled high schoolers. NCFCA places particular emphasis on excellence in academic and personal integrity as students learn to communicate more effectively.

Cathy Hook, a 1992 OBU alumna, serves as the Oklahoma State Representative for the NCFCA.

"We are thrilled that OBU is hosting our regional qualifier," she said. "We have been welcomed with open arms. OBU staff and faculty have done a tremendous job helping us prepare for this event."

OBU faculty, staff and administrators volunteered to serve as judges during the event.

For more information on NCFCA, visit www.ncfca.org.